Southern Water has applied to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) for a Drought Order and a Non-Essential Use Ban covering the Isle of Wight and Hampshire.
The application comes after the Environment Agency declared more than half of England to be in drought.
The company says the measures are precautionary and would protect water supplies and the environment if dry weather continues.
A spokesperson for Southern Water said,
“These are precautionary measures and making an application does not mean they will be introduced.
“However, we must follow the regulatory process to protect water supplies and the environment if dry conditions persist.”
What a non-essential use ban stops
Water regulator Ofwat says a hosepipe ban mainly restricts households, stopping people using a hose on the garden or to wash the car.
A Non-Essential Use Ban targets businesses instead. Firms, in other words, rather than families.
Ofwat says that if such a ban took effect, businesses would have to stop filling or maintaining non-domestic swimming pools, paddling pools and ponds.
They would also have to stop running mechanical vehicle washers and cleaning vehicles or non-domestic premises.
Drought declared last month
The Environment Agency placed Hampshire and the Isle of Wight among seven English regions in drought last month.
Southern Water said protecting the River Test remains one of its “highest priorities”.
The Drought Order it is seeking would let the company keep taking water from the Test even if flows in the river drop lower.
Consultation and repairs
The consultation runs from Tuesday 4th August to 11th August 2026.
Southern Water said it had repaired more than 4,000 leaks since January, saving about 40m litres of water across Hampshire and the Isle of Wight.
It said it had saved 12.5m litres since the hosepipe ban started.
Source: BBC
