Hosepipe Ban To Begin Across Isle Of Wight After Prolonged Dry Spells

A hosepipe ban will come into force across the Isle of Wight next Friday after Southern Water announced emergency restrictions following months of exceptionally dry weather.

The Temporary Use Ban starts at 12.01am on July 10 and will prevent customers using hosepipes for activities including watering gardens, filling paddling pools and washing cars.

Southern Water says river levels in the River Test, which supplies most drinking water to Hampshire and the Isle of Wight, are around 25 per cent below normal after the warmest spring on record and recent hot weather.

The company is urging customers to reduce water use immediately, saying a hosepipe can use up to 1,000 litres of water an hour.

Since January, Southern Water says it has repaired 2,840 leaks across Hampshire and the Isle of Wight, saving around 27 million litres of water each day.

Some exemptions will apply for customers with qualifying health or mobility needs, including certain Priority Services Register and WaterSure scheme members.