South East Water has issued a hosepipe ban as temperatures begin to spike, with households advised to limit their water usage.

The water company has put an official temporary use ban (TUB) or hosepipe ban on much of the Kent region, and has advised over areas served by the company - Surrey, Hampshire, Berkshire and East and West Sussex - to pause all usage.

Coming into effect on 3 July - although South East Water is urging customers to adhere to the ban now - this TUB will affect over 850,000 customers. Here’s everything you need to know.

What we know about the housepipe ban

In a statement issued today (25 June), South East Water stated that demand for drinking water in South East Water’s Kent supply area has reached very high levels in June, driven by the most recent heatwave.

So, to ensure that the company can provide a consistent water service for its customers, it is moving to restrict the use of hoses and sprinklers with ‘immediate effect’. The hosepipe ban comes as some of its customers are currently facing water supply interruptions. Parts of Ashford, Headcorn and Whitstable in Kent have reported no water or low pressure this morning.

It was also revealed earlier this month that the water firm is wasting more than 100 million litres of water per day through leakages. The BBC has reported that this equates to around 500 million cups of tea every single day.

The company states its raw water levels (the water in its reservoirs) are in a good position following a wet winter. However, having experienced just 36% of normal rainfall from March to May and lacking the capacity to treat and pump water has prompted the ban.

‘We completely understand why everyone reaches for the hose when the weather gets this hot. It’s natural to want to enjoy our gardens and cool down, and we know how frustrating it is to hear that restrictions are coming into place,’ David Hinton, Chief Executive Officer, South East Water, said.

‘Our teams have worked incredibly hard to prepare for this summer, but the sheer scale of this sustained heatwave means drinking water is being drawn from our storage tanks faster than it can be treated and refilled. Our absolute priority has to be making sure there is always enough water for everyone’s essential daily needs—like hygiene, drinking and cooking—and that we protect our vulnerable customers.

‘To safeguard that shared supply and prevent any homes from facing a sudden loss of water, we sadly need to ask our communities to not use their hosepipes immediately. We are deeply sorry for the disruption this causes, and we are incredibly grateful to everyone helping us protect Kent's water.’

How to water a garden during a hosepipe ban

If you have been affected by a hosepipe ban, don’t despair. There are still ways to water your garden during a hosepipe ban.

Of course, the simplest and most obvious solution is to use a watering can, which you can fill up from your tap. This allows you to target water exactly where it is needed. We also recommend installing a water butt. This eco-friendly idea has been a huge garden trend this year, allowing you to collect and recycle rainwater in your garden. You can even snap up a space-saving water butt kit for £34.99 on Amazon if you have a small garden.

Provided you’re not watering vegetables or any edible produce, you can also use grey water - such as bathroom sink and shower water, kitchen sink water or bathwater - provided it is free from harmful chemicals.

With these methods, it is possible to water your garden during a heatwave. If your area is under a hosepipe ban, then you need to make sure you adhere to it, as anyone caught breaching an official ban will be issued with a fine of up to £1,000.