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Danny Hayes from
Millbrook Garden Centre, Gravesend, talks about the hosepipe ban -
and why water butts offer a good solution

Homes across Kent have today been hit
with hosepipe bans amid a crippling drought.

Seven water firms - including Southern Water, South East Water,
Thames Water and Veolia South East, which serve Kent - have
enforced the ban.

Customers will be prevented from using hosepipes for watering
their gardens, washing cars and filling swimming pools.

Anyone who breaches the terms of the water ban - brought in
after two abnormally dry winters and the first since 2005 - could
be prosecuted.

Garden centres across the county have reported a surge in sales
of watering cans and irrigation systems.

The hosepipe ban comes after months of concern about dry
conditions, which have left reservoirs, aquifers and rivers well
below normal levels.

People will be banned
from using hosepipes

Initially, South East Water had proposed some concessions -
including allowing those over 65 to use a hosepipe for garden
watering - but these have been dropped.

Lee Dance, head of water resources at South East Water, said:
"As a result of our consultation, many customers, including a
number who are over 65-years-old, contacted us to say they wanted
to help play their part during this drought by putting the hosepipe
away.

"However in common with other water companies, we will allow the
use of hosepipes by customers who have severe monility problems and
so already hold a Blue Badge, as issued by their local
authority.

"The restrictions are a regrettable but necessary, step to
protect supplies for the coming months for essential use of water
by our customers for drinking, washing and cooking and to minimise
the impact on the water environment.

"If the situation does not significantly improve, then we may
have to remove any initial concessions, and introduce wider
restrictions, to protect both customers' water supplies and the
environment from which we take that water."

Kent was officially declared a drought zone by the Environment
Secretary in February after one of the driest two-year periods
since records began.

Bewl Water
reservoir in Lamberhurst is at just 48% of its normal capacity for
the time of year and groundwater reserves are severely
depleted.

In February, Southern Water was granted a drought permit that
means it can take more water from the River Medway - to help boost
levels at Bewl Water reservoir.

If the situation does not improve, emergency meassures such as
public standpipes, which were used during the 1976 drought, could
be introduced.