People will be banned from using hosepipes

Homes across Kent are to be hit with hosepipe bans amid worsening drought conditions.

Water companies will announce the restrictions tomorrow as a result of two unusually dry winters.

Seven firms - including Southern Water, South East Water, Thames Water and Veolia South East, which serve Kent - are to enforce the ban.

The temporary restrictions are set to be introduced on Thursday, April 5 - just before the Easter Bank Holiday weekend.

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 - the first since 2005 - could be prosecuted.

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

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

Bewl Water reservoir in Lamberhurst is at just 42% of its normal capacity for the time of year and groundwater reserves are severely depleted.

Bewl Water is at just 42% capacity

Paul Butler, Managing Director of South East Water, said: "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."

Heavy rain could stave off the worst of the drought, but the Met Office is not forecasting any significant rainfall in drought-affected areas over the next month.

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

Last month, 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.

The permit - granted by the Environment Agency - remains in force until March 31, and allows the water giant to take more water from its intake at Yalding.