‘Drought’ in Battle, but not in Hastings

Southern Water, which covers Hastings and Rye along with Thames Water and Anglian Water have announced they will lift hosepipe bans for their regions.

However, South East Water, which supplies Battle, has said the restrictions will remain in place as groundwater levels are still too low, despite a large volume of recent rainfall which has boosted the region’s rivers and reservoirs.

South East Water will keep temporary use bans in place as it continues to carefully monitor water levels.

The firm has said some groundwater supplies remain at severe levels.

As these provide 75 percent of all customers’ water supplies South East Water says is not in a position to remove water restrictions and instead continues to carefully follow its Drought Plan to ensure it is prepared for the risk of a third dry winter.

The company would not normally expect to see the vital underground reserves re-fill properly until the autumn, but if the current wet weather continues anything is possible and therefore they continue to monitor the levels closely and keep the restrictions under review.

Paul Seeley, Asset Director at South East Water, said: “All water companies must stick to their drought management plans which are agreed with our regulators. Just as those companies who are now in a position to withdraw their restrictions will be following theirs, so must we comply with ours and retain them.

“We hope our customers understand why we are taking the action we are – these depleted reserves still need to see us through the summer, if it ever arrives, while we must also plan for the possibility of a third dry winter.

“We would like to take this opportunity to thank our customers for the extraordinary efforts they have made so far, while reassuring them that we are prudently managing the water resources we do have and as soon as we are confident the groundwater sources have recovered we will remove the restrictions.”