1 January 2012

Please note: this news article is in our archive. Articles were correct at time of publication, but should not be relied on for accuracy after the passage of time.

SOUTH East Water is asking its customers not to waste water following the grant of a Government Drought Order to conserve levels at Ardingly Reservoir.

But it has warned that unless seasonal rainfall increases for the remainder of the winter, customers could face shortages next summer.

Heavy rainfall in November brought the level of the reservoir up from 12 to 30% but it will need continuing steady rain in the coming weeks to refill reserves to the point where supplies can be assured.

“Recent rainfall has helped the situation, but it by no means solves the problem,” warned a spokesman, “and we still hope to see prolonged periods of rainfall over the remainder of the winter to bring our water resource levels back to ‘normal’ for this time of year.”

As well as asking consumers not to waste water, SE Water has increased its efforts to identify and repair leaks as quickly as possible, and to reroute water from areas which have plenty, to allow local reservoirs to recover.

* For advice, or updates on the water situation go to www.southeastwater.co.uk/waterupdate.