People in Kent and Sussex asked to use water only for essentials after outages

South East Water has issued an urgent plea to customers in Kent and Sussex, requesting they limit water usage to essential purposes only. This appeal comes after demand surged dramatically, reaching 100 million liters above average on Monday, exacerbating existing water outages that have affected hundreds of homes over the past three days amid record-breaking temperatures.

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We had planned for this given the weather forecasts by increasing output at our water treatment works across our supply area and putting extra water into the network.

The company reported that 670 million liters of drinking water were consumed across its supply area on Monday alone. Despite the high demand and low storage reservoirs in parts of Kent, South East Water has not yet implemented a formal temporary use ban, which would prohibit activities like filling paddling pools or washing cars with hosepipes.

Matthew Dean, head of operations control at South East Water, explained that the extreme heat caused a significant spike in demand. "We had planned for this given the weather forecasts by increasing output at our water treatment works... and putting extra water into the network," he stated. He added that a fleet of tankers has been working around the clock to supplement the supply in high-demand areas. However, he acknowledged that customers on higher ground or at the network's extremities might experience low pressure or interruptions, particularly during peak usage times.

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Our fleet of tankers has been working 24/7 putting additional water into the network in areas where demand has been extremely high over recent days.

With the hot weather expected to continue, the company is asking for customer cooperation to maintain water flow. The email sent to customers specifically requested they avoid using jet washes, sprinklers, and hosepipes, suggesting alternatives like water blasters for children. It also encouraged reusing water from baths and showers for gardening. Meanwhile, the government faces increasing pressure to launch a public campaign on water conservation, as projections indicate potential daily shortages of 5 billion liters by 2055 if current usage trends persist. British citizens use significantly more water daily than their European counterparts, averaging up to 140 liters per person, compared to a government target of 122 liters by 2038.

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As the hot weather is set to last a few more days, we’re asking for our customers’ help to keep taps flowing locally. We’re now asking our customers to use water for essential purposes only, for drinking, washing and cooking.

The appeal follows customer frustration, with some reporting multiple days without running water. One customer, Brendan May, expressed anger on X, formerly Twitter, criticizing the company's request for help after prolonged outages, stating, "We needed your help when we had no running water for days, twice. Sod off, stop lining your pockets."

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Think about where you can swap tap water for recycled water. Reuse water from baths, showers and sinks in the garden … Act now, please do all you can to cut down on everything but essential water use, which is drinking, washing and cooking.