Southern imposes first hosepipe ban in a decade

Southern Water has imposed a hosepipe ban in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight for the first time since 2012 following exceptionally low rainfall and high temperatures this year. The temporary use ban will come into place from next week and apply until rain returns river flow levels to normal. The company has applied for a drought permit from the Environment Agency for the River Test chalk stream to lower the current flow limit for abstraction.