Southern Water has become the first water firm in the country to introduce a hosepipe ban. The temporary use ban (Tub), affecting residents in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight, will come into force on August 5.
It forbids the use of hosepipes to water gardens and clean cars, and ornamental ponds and swimming pools cannot be filled. It is the first Tub to be enforced in the region since 2012.
Dr Alison Hoyle, director of risk and compliance at Southern Water, said: "We haven't taken this decision lightly and we know the temporary use ban will have an impact on our customers. We're working with the Environment Agency to ensure that we act responsibly to protect our environment.
"We're asking everyone in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight to do their bit by supporting these measures and only use the water that they need. We're experiencing one of the driest years on record for over a century, and we've seen record temperatures.
"River flows are approximately 25% lower than they should be for July, which is equivalent to losing more than 25 million bathtubs of water."
