Standpipes could return to British streets for first time in 50 years as 'severe drought' is declared across six southern counties

Ardingly Reservoir in West Sussex has plunged to just 19% full and Wimbleball in Somerset to a critical 14.9%, triggering a severe drought declaration across Cornwall, Devon, Dorset, Somerset, East Sussex and West Sussex — the driest April to September in over a century. South East Water chief executive John Halsall warned supplies are under "severe pressure" and standpipes may appear on streets for the first time in five decades. The South East and South West have seen rainfall fall 80% below average in some areas last month, and 24 million people remain under hosepipe bans.

Ardingly Reservoir serves 280,000 customers in Sussex and has dropped from 22.8% to just 20.2% full in a single week.

Water companies want to extend bans to golf clubs and commercial car washes, but Environment Secretary Angela Eagle has yet to approve the requests.

Halsall admitted customers reduced water use by only 5% against a 10% target, and outages in Tunbridge Wells have already undermined public confidence.