The Newshound

South East Water expands hosepipe ban to elderly and vulnerable as drought-hit Ardingly Reservoir hits RECORD LOW levels

From the Newshound archive · first published 2 October 2026 · last updated 3 October 2026.

South East Water is removing hosepipe ban exemptions for 2.4 million customers — including blind and chronically ill people — from 9 October, as Ardingly Reservoir hits record low levels.
South East Water is removing hosepipe ban exemptions for 2.4 million customers — including blind and chronically ill people — from 9 October, as Ardingly Reservoir hits record low levels.

South East Water is stripping exemptions from its hosepipe ban from 9 October, hitting all 2.4 million customers including those on its Priority Services Register — the blind, the chronically ill and other vulnerable people. The firm has also applied to the Environment Secretary for a non-essential use ban targeting businesses, covering commercial car washing, construction dust suppression and the watering of sports fields. A dry September has worsened what was already a record hot summer, leaving reservoirs across Sussex critically depleted.

Ardingly Reservoir near Haywards Heath, which serves 280,000 customers, is at "exceptionally low" levels and has "moved further into drought", the company says.

MoreThe TelegraphSouth East Water extends hosepipe ban to elderlyLBCSouth East Water extends hosepipe ban to vulnerable customersThe IndependentSouth East Water expands hosepipe ban to vulnerable people after dry SeptemberRayoSouth East Water expands hosepipe ban and asks for business restriction - Rayo
Read today's full feed at The Newshound →