Try our AI Explainer
This notice is long. Get a simplified view of the most important information, including key dates and locations is seconds.
South East Water - Application For Drought Order Prohibition Or Limitation On The Use Of Water
What is happening?
STATUTORY NOTICE OF APPLICATION FOR DROUGHT ORDER PROHIBITION OR LIMITATION ON THE USE OF WATER
UNDER SECTION 73 AND 74(2)(b) AND SCHEDULE 8 OF THE WATER RESOURCES ACT 1991
TAKE NOTICE that due to the threat of a serious deficiency of supplies of water in the Sussex Region of South East Water’s supply area caused by an exceptional shortage of rain, South East Water Limited of Rocfort Road, Snodland, Kent, ME6 5AH is applying to the Secretary of State for a Drought Order under section 73 and 74(2)(b) of the Water Resources Act 1991.
If implemented it would allow us to impose restrictions on water use in accordance with the provisions of the Drought Direction 2011. This would mean the categories of mains water use listed in the table below could be restricted in the area outlined in the map below or just one of the resource zones if only needed partially. There will also be flexibility to give discretionary concessions to the restrictions, based on the severity of the drought (see table). If granted and we need to implement, we will publish a further notice to confirm dates and any discretionary concessions that may apply.
These activities are in addition to the activities covered by the Temporary Use Ban which has been in place from 25 July 2026 for domestic customers in this area.
Drought Direction 2011 ref.
Activity / Purpose
Statutory Scope Includes
Statutory Exclusions
Discretionary Concessions
Purpose 1
(Para 2)
Watering outdoor plants on commercial premises
Watering plants on commercial premises using a hosepipe (plants in outdoor pots/containers or in the ground under cover).
Does not include watering plants grown or kept for sale or commercial use, or are part of a National Plant Collection or temporary garden
● Newly bought plants
● Watering with certain water
efficient apparatus drip / micro irrigation
Purpose 2
(Para 3)
Filling or maintaining a non domestic swimming or paddling pool
Filling or maintaining a swimming or paddling pool other than a domestic swimming or paddling pool (includes member-only / private leisure club pools).
Note: pools that are restricted to members only e.g. hotel pool, private leisure club etc. fall under this restriction
Filling or maintaining a pool: (a) that is open to the public; (b) where necessary in the course of its construction; (c) using a hand-held container which is filled with water drawn directly from a tap; (d) that is designed, constructed or adapted for use in the course of a programme of medical treatment; (e) that is used for the purpose of decontaminating animals from infections or disease; (f) that is used in the course of a programme of veterinary treatment; (g) in which fish or other aquatic animals are being reared or kept in captivity; (h) that is for use by pupils of a school for school swimming lessons.
● Pools serving industrial centre training where justified
● Pools with covers as evaporative losses low
● Pools with approved water conservation / recycling system
● Pools subject to significant repair and renovation
Purpose 3
(Para 4)
Filling or maintaining a pond
Filling or maintaining; (a) a non-domestic pond; or (b) a domestic pond
Filling or maintaining a pond (a) in which fish or other aquatic animals are being reared or kept in captivity; (b) using a hand-held container which is filled with water drawn directly from a tap; (c) a domestic pond using a hosepipe
None applicable
Purpose 4
(Para 5)
Operating a mechanical vehicle washer
Mechanical car and truck washers, whether automatic or not
applicable
● Washers that recycle less than 23 litres per wash
● Biosecurity grounds
Purpose 5
(Para 6)
Cleaning of any vehicle, boat, aircraft or railway rolling stock
Cleaning any vehicle (not being a private motor-vehicle), boat (non private leisure), aircraft or railway rolling stock using a hosepipe
Cleaning any vehicle, boat, aircraft or railway rolling stock for health or safety reasons
● Low water use technologies
● Small businesses whose sole operations are cleaning of vehicles etc.
● Those using vessels as primary residence
● Cases where fouling of hulls causes increased fuel consumption
● Elderly or disabled
● Removal of graffiti
Purpose 6
(Para 7)
Cleaning non domestic premises
Cleaning any of the following using a hosepipe (a) any exterior part of a non- domestic building other than a window; (b) a non-domestic wall.
Cleaning of any exterior part of a non-domestic building or a non- domestic wall for health or safety reasons.
● Some businesses may be reliant on building washing
● Removal of graffiti
● Low water use technologies
Purpose 7
(Para 8)
Cleaning a window of a non domestic building
Cleaning a window of a non domestic building using a hosepipe
Cleaning a window of a non domestic building using a hosepipe for Health or safety reasons
● Businesses reliant on building washing
● Cleaning apparatus not connected to mains supply
Purpose 8
(Para 9)
Cleaning industrial plant
Cleaning industrial plant using a hosepipe
Cleaning industrial plant using a hosepipe for health or safety reasons
● Removal of graffiti
Purpose 9
(Para 10)
Suppressing dust
Suppressing dust using a hosepipe
Suppressing dust using a hosepipe for health or safety reasons
● Nuisance control
Purpose 10
(Para 11)
Operating cisterns
Operating an automatically-operated flushing cistern which services a water closet pan or urinal in any building that is unoccupied or closed
None
● Offer concessions to charities, churches and nonprofit organisations
People who are registered with the South East Water’s Priority Service Register will be granted an automatic exemption to any of the restrictions and will receive notification of this directly. If you believe you should be on the Priority Services Register please go to
/psr to register.
The anticipated effect of this Drought Order, if granted and implemented, would be to conserve water resources and maintain essential public supply. In the short term it could help conserve storage and assist in the winter refill of Ardingly Reservoir, and it will also help with water resources recovery through the winter period across the Sussex region. Anyone may inspect the proposals free of charge at the addresses below during normal working hours (9am to 4pm), until 9 October at: ● Barcombe Village Hall, Barcombe Mills Rd, Lewes BN8 5BH ● South East Water, Rocfort Road, Snodland, Kent, ME6 5AH
A copy of the application documents will also be hosted at
Objections may be made in writing to the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs at Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra), quoting the name of the applicant, by email to:
Or by post to: Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Water Resources Policy Seacole Ground Floor 2 Marsham Street London SW1P 4DF
Objections should be made by 9 October 2026. The response should outline if you are making a formal objection to the proposal and the grounds for the objection.
Nick Price, Head of Water Resources, South East Water
2 October 2026
Need to publish a public notice?
If you need to publish a public notice, please contact Sussex World directly at:
