Water Companies Seek Business Bans Amid England Drought
South East, Southern, and South West Water have requested government bans on non-essential business water use as reservoir levels fall 21% below expectations.
Three major water companies—South East Water, Southern Water, and South West Water—have applied to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs for non-essential use bans to restrict commercial water consumption. The proposed measures would prohibit commercial car washes from operating and prevent golf clubs and private schools from using mains water for irrigation.
Eleven areas of England remain in drought, with reservoir levels currently at 54%, which is 21% below autumn expectations. In Hampshire, Southern Water is specifically requesting a drought order to extract water from the River Test. The company cited a "clear threat to supplies" to justify drawing from the rare salmon habitat even at levels considered ecologically unsafe.
Sam Bottomley, Director for drinking water services at South West Water, noted that the region is entering a critical phase. He explained that the companies continue to draw on reservoirs to maintain supply while river flows remain too low to support public water needs. While Wales is showing early signs of recovery from its July drought, the Met Office reports that above-average rainfall over the next seven months is necessary to end the drought across all affected English regions.
