Southern Water has announced the introduction of a Temporary Use Ban (TUB) for its customers in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight – commonly known as a hosepipe ban.

Announcing the ban, the water company said one of the region’s driest years for a century and highest ever temperatures have caused a drought that threatens to damage the precious habitats of the River Test and River Itchen.

The extremely hot weather and reduced rainfall alongside increased demand has left the water levels significantly lower.

Dr Alison Hoyle, Director of Risk & Compliance at Southern Water, said:

“We haven’t taken this decision lightly and we know the Temporary Use Ban will have an impact on our customers. We’re working with the Environment Agency to ensure that we act responsibly to protect our environment. We’re asking everyone in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight to do their bit by supporting these measures and only use the water that they need. 

“We’re experiencing one of the driest years on record for over a century and we’ve seen record temperatures. River flows are approximately 25% lower than they should be for July, which is equivalent to losing more than 25 million bathtubs of water. We're asking our customers to help protect our rivers and the habitats that live there by cutting back their water use. We believe a Temporary Use Ban is a responsible and vital step to reducing the amount of water being taken from the Rivers Test and Itchen.”  

The Water Temporary Use Ban will come into effect for customers in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight from Friday 5 August 2022. This will be the first time a TUB has been seen in the Southern Water region since 2012. 

While there is currently  no direct risk to customer water supply, under the terms of the TUB measure, using hosepipes to water gardens or clean cars will no longer be permitted and ornamental ponds and swimming pools must not be filled.