The exceptionally dry weather experienced throughout 2026 has put significant pressure on water resources, particularly in Sussex.
As part of the action we’re taking to protect water supplies and the environment, on 2 October 2026 we applied for a Non-Essential Use Ban (NEUB) under a Drought Order in our Sussex supply area.
The application must be approved by the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs before a Non-Essential Use Ban can be introduced. It is not currently in force.
Non-Essential Use Ban Drought Order application - Sussex
A Non-Essential Use Ban targets certain commercial and non-household uses of water. If our application is approved, we would only implement the ban if drought conditions in Sussex become more sever.
Find out more about our NEUB application and what it could mean for businesses and non-household customers here. (opens in a new tab)
We have also announced further changes to hosepipe restrictions for customers in Sussex. From 9 October 2026, existing exemptions will be removed, except where hosepipe use is permitted for health and safety purposes.
Find out more about hosepipe restrictions in Sussex and what these changes mean for you here.(opens in a new tab)
The Met Office(opens in a new tab) is provisionally reporting Summer 2026 to be the hottest on record, while July in England was the driest since records began 190 years ago. Between March and August, Sussex received just over 56 per cent of expected rainfall.
Despite recent rainfall, Ardingly Reservoir is currently only 22.8 per cent full and has triggered the next level of our Drought Plan(opens in a new tab). As a result, we need to take further steps to protect water supplies and the environment.
Will this affect me?
There are no additional restrictions in place as a result of the NEUB application.(opens in a new tab) If approved and implemented, the ban would apply to certain commercial and non-household uses of water in Sussex. Business customers can find out more about the proposed restrictions here.(opens in a new tab)
Household customers in Sussex are currently subject to hosepipe restrictions, with changes to exemptions taking effect from 9 October 2026. You can find out more about these restrictions here. (opens in a new tab)
The decline of Ardingly Reservoir
Recent rainfall has helped, but sustained rainfall is still needed for water resources in Sussex to recover. We need sustained rainfall to moisten the ground so water can filter deep into underground aquifers and help replenish the rivers and reservoirs that supply customers’ drinking water.
You can keep up to date with our latest reservoir levels on our reservoir levels page here. (opens in a new tab)
On 28 August 2026, we applied for a Drought Permit in Sussex.
On 29 September 2026, it was granted by the Environment Agency.
The permit allows us to reduce the amount of additional water released from Ardingly Reservoir into the Shell Brook tributary of the River Ouse and reduce the minimum flow of water that must remain in the river at Barcombe Mills after water has been taken from it for customers.
River Ouse Drought Order - 2025
On 10 October 2025, we applied to the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs for a Drought Order to help manage the water resource situation in Sussex. This has now been approved.
We applied for the Drought Order because we experienced extremely low rainfall for a large part of 2025, which resulted in the water level in Ardingly Reservoir approaching critically low levels.
On 22 September the company was granted a Drought Permit by the Environment Agency to help conserve storage in the reservoir. This Drought Order superseded the Drought Permit and lasted for up to six months, to 2 June 2026.
What this Drought Order did
The River Ouse Drought Order allowed us to temporarily change how we managed water resources in the River Ouse and Ardingly Reservoir during the 2025 drought. It allowed us to reduce the amount of additional water released from Ardingly Reservoir into the Shell Brook tributary of the River Ouse and reduce the minimum flow of water that had to remain in the river at Barcombe Mills after water had been taken for customers.
These measures helped us to conserve water stored in Ardingly Reservoir while continuing to protect the environment during the exceptionally dry conditions.
Previous Non-Essential Use Ban application - 2025
On 24 October 2025, we applied for a Non-Essential Use Ban under a Drought Order.
In December 2025, we cancelled the application following a period of positive recovery at Ardingly Reservoir, which moved us to Level 1 of our Drought Plan.