Three water firms seek to ban businesses from non-essential use as England's drought deepens into winter

Three water companies are seeking powers to bar businesses from using mains water for non-essential purposes, including golf courses, private school playing fields and commercial car washes, as eleven areas of England remain in drought. Reservoir levels across England and Wales stand at 54% — a fifth below what is expected in autumn — with eight reservoirs classed as exceptionally low. The Met Office warns above-average rainfall is needed for seven consecutive months to end the crisis, yet England received just 65% of typical September rainfall last month.

Ardingly Reservoir in West Sussex, which serves 280,000 people, has fallen to just 20.2% full and could run completely dry by mid-November if dry weather persists.

South East Water's chief executive John Halsall warned he may have to apply to the Environment Secretary for emergency powers, including street standpipes and rota cuts leaving homes without water for parts of the day.

England needs 120% of typical rainfall over the next seven months just to exit drought status — with restrictions already hitting almost 30 million people across southern and eastern England.