UK’s South East Water Ltd. has applied for government approval to restrict non-essential water use by businesses in Sussex due to deepening drought conditions. The utility, serving over 2 million customers in southeast England, requested a drought order to ban non-essential commercial water use, pending approval from Environment Secretary Angela Eagle. Southern Water made a similar application in August, with no decision yet. Affected businesses could include car washes and non-domestic swimming pools.
This year’s drought and heatwave have drained rivers and reservoirs, disrupted supplies, and led to hosepipe bans for millions. The extreme weather also caused wildfires, damaged crops, and exposed weaknesses in the aging water infrastructure. The government stated there is a one-in-four chance that half of England could remain in drought next spring. South East Water’s Ardingly Reservoir is only 22.8% full, and the utility is tightening its hosepipe ban by removing most exemptions except for health and safety.
It also received permission to reduce water releases into the River Ouse. The Environment Agency warned that the drought permit may not be sufficient and further measures, including a non-essential use ban, may be needed. Such a ban has not been imposed in England for 20 years, last used by Sutton and East Surrey Water in 2006.
Source: Bloomberg Markets · Summarized by HeadlinesBriefing