Essex & Suffolk Water has appealed to customers to reduce their water use after a combination of exceptionally high demand and prolonged dry weather has placed pressure on supplies. The company said it “can’t rule out” the need for a temporary use ban later this summer if current trends continue.
Supplies under pressure despite wet winter
Company water director Kieran Ingram said the business entered the season in a relatively strong position after a wet winter and recent investment in infrastructure, including upgrades around Abberton Reservoir. However, he warned that water resources remain sensitive to weather and customer behaviour and that further action could be necessary to protect supplies.
"Thanks to a wet winter, our reservoirs had a good refill season, and we started the summer in a stronger position. ... But water resources are always influenced by the weather. If the hot, dry conditions continue and our exceptionally high customer demand continues too, we may need to take further action to protect supplies, including considering a temporary use ban."
Data showing the scale of the challenge
Recent figures published by the company underline the strain on resources:
- Reservoirs at Hanningfield and Abberton were at 72% full as of 21 July.
- Customer demand across Essex is running 13% above average, equivalent to an extra 56 million litres per day.
- No rainfall was recorded in Essex during July, contributing to falling river flows and lower reservoir inflows.
- Soil moisture is estimated at 129% drier than average, meaning groundwater and soils will take longer to recover when rain returns.
| Reservoir | Level (21 July) |
|---|---|
| Hanningfield | 72% |
| Abberton | 72% |
Regional context and what might happen next
The appeal comes after the Environment Agency declared that East Anglia is experiencing "prolonged dry weather". Thames Water has already introduced a hosepipe ban in parts of its area, while Essex & Suffolk Water remains the only company in the wider South East not currently subject to such restrictions.
Essex & Suffolk Water says it is continuing to invest in resilience and storage capacity but that if hot, dry conditions and above-average customer demand persist, it would consider further measures, including a temporary use ban that would restrict activities such as garden watering and filling private pools.
What this means for local residents
The company’s alert is effectively an early warning: households and businesses supplied by Essex & Suffolk Water are being asked to be mindful of water use so that a coordinated response can avoid the need for mandatory restrictions.
Officials emphasise that the evolving situation depends on both weather and how much water customers use in the coming weeks.
