South East Water customers in East Sussex urged to limit tap water use
The company is worried about reserves following a big increase in usage during the heatwave
South East Water customers in parts of East Sussex are being urged to only use tap water for essential purposes this week.
The company has seen a big rise in demand for usage during the heatwave and bosses are worried about reserves ahead of the summer months.
Households in Eastbourne and Haywards Heath are among those affected and are asked not to fill paddling pools or use garden sprinklers.
South East Water’s Operations Director, Douglas Whitfield, said: “We are seeing significant increased demand for tap water supplies and we need to act now to preserve our precious resources throughout the summer.
“Although last weekend was the hottest we’ve had so far, we’ve also had dry weather for the last six weeks.
“We’ve not had any significant rainfall since the end of April and this has put considerable pressure on our ability treat, pump and supply water to our all customers.
“Together with increased demand, this has impacted on the amount of treated water we have in our drinking water storage tanks across the regions.
“We’re asking our customers to commit to only using water that’s needed for essentials – things like drinking, cooking and hygiene. If we can all do that for the next few days, we will be able to refill the network much faster.
“There’s lots of tips and advice on our website www.southeastwater.co.uk for how our customers can help us – and our communities - by using water wisely and making sure there is enough water for everyone this summer.”