SOUTH EAST WATER - 'WAIT AND SEE'

The company has no immediate plans to apply for a Drought Order which, if granted, would allow it to ban non-essential use of water.

However, this decision is entirely dependent on how much rainfall there is over the next few weeks and how much water customers use, especially over the spring and summer months.

David Shore, Director of Operations, said: "This type of ban would only be applied for to ensure we can continue supplying customers with water for their vital everyday needs, such as drinking, cooking and washing.

"While we have no immediate plans to apply for a ban on non-essential use, we are monitoring the current situation closely. We remain at the mercy of both the weather and the likely increase in demand for water this spring and summer from our customers.

"It is only by working together that we can beat the drought and minimise the risk of having to introduce more extreme measures.

"However, we still need to be prepared and ready to act quickly if the drought situation worsens and we need to conserve water supplies, without imposing undue stress on the environment.

"That's why we are continuing our discussions with the Government about if, and when, we might need to introduce restrictions on the non-essential use of water."

The south east has now had a second, consecutive winter with below average rainfall, which is when the underground sources would normally refill. These underground sources account for about 75 per cent of South East Water's supplies.

South East Water is continuing to work with the Environment Agency and other water companies at a regional level to manage the current water resources situation.

This includes utilising the available network of water mains to move all available water around the region to secure supplies, while also pressing ahead with additional engineering schemes to provide further operational support.