BOTH East and West Sussex, supplied by South East Water, have been declared in severe drought, with Ardingly Reservoir less than a fifth full.
South East Water has told customers that the Environment Agency has moved the affected areas into the third of four drought stages, reflecting the impact of prolonged dry weather on the local environment.
The company says Sussex received just 54 per cent of its expected rainfall between March and September. Recent rain has followed a dry start to autumn and has not been enough to reverse the situation.
Ardingly Reservoir stood at 19.4 per cent capacity on October 11, significantly below its level at the same time last year.
The update comes after South East Water told customers its revised hosepipe restrictions were legally enforceable. The company has also applied for permission to introduce a Non-Essential Use Ban, which it says could be used as a precaution if approved.
In its newsletter, the company described protecting customers’ daily water supplies as its priority and outlined measures to reduce pressure on water resources.
These include increasing the number of dedicated leakage teams in the region from seven to 16. South East Water says the number of outstanding leaks has fallen from 181 to 97, with 170 repaired locally over the past fortnight.
It says a total of 1,317 leaks have been repaired in the affected area since April 1.
The company is also adjusting water pressure across its Sussex network, saying this will help maintain a consistent supply while reducing bursts and water lost through leaks.
A new pipeline connecting treated water from Bewl in Kent to the East Sussex network is now operating after construction was brought forward.
South East Water says the connection allows water to be moved between the counties, making supplies more resilient and reducing the amount drawn from Ardingly Reservoir.
Customers are being urged to continue conserving water as the company responds to the prolonged dry conditions.
