SOUTH East Water has revealed that a staggering 661 million litres of water were used in a single day last week, prompting the supplier to raise its alert level to amber.
The company is now urging residents across Sussex to use water only for essential purposes such as drinking, washing, and cooking.
In an email issued to households, South East Water thanked customers for cutting back over the recent hot weekend, saying their efforts made ‘a real difference’. However, with little rain forecast and temperatures continuing to rise, they are calling on the public to keep up their water-saving habits.
The utility company says its sites are operating at full capacity, working around the clock to meet demand and refill storage tanks. It has also increased the number of teams repairing leaks and has optimised operations to the fullest extent possible.
To help ease pressure on the system, residents are being urged to:
- Avoid using mains water to water gardens — instead, reuse bath, shower, or sink water where possible.
- Delay non-essential water use — letting your lawn turn golden is safe and natural.
- Make small daily changes to reduce consumption.
South East Water said: “We’re doing all we can with the resources we have, and your continued help can prevent tougher restrictions down the line.”
