Hosepipe ban for parts of Hampshire
Last updated 3rd Aug 2022
A hosepipe ban is being put in place from next week (5 August) in parts of Hampshire and the Isle of Wight because of the recent dry and hot weather.
Southern Water is introducing a Temporary Use Ban but they say there’s no direct risk to customer water supply.
This is the first time a TUB has been seen in our region since 2012.
The ban means people can't use their hosepipes to water their gardens or clean their cars and ornamental ponds and swimming pools must not be filled.
Dr Alison Hoyle, Director of Risk & Compliance at Southern Water, said:
“We haven’t taken this decision lightly and we know the Temporary Use Ban will have an impact on our customers.
"We’re working with the Environment Agency to ensure that we act responsibly to protect our environment. We’re asking everyone in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight to do their bit by supporting these measures and only use the water that they need.
“We’re experiencing one of the driest years on record for over a century and we’ve seen record temperatures.
"River flows are approximately 25% lower than they should be for July, which is equivalent to losing more than 25 million bathtubs of water. We're asking our customers to help protect our rivers and the habitats that live there by cutting back their water use.
"We believe a Temporary Use Ban is a responsible and vital step to reducing the amount of water being taken from the Rivers Test and Itchen.”