SOUTH East Water has lifted its hosepipe and sprinkler ban for 1.5 million customers in Hampshire, Sussex, Kent, Berkshire and Surrey. The ban was lifted on Wednesday to bring an official end to a dry period which in Hampshire, Surrey and Berkshire was imposed on April 3 last year, following a similar ban in Sussex and Kent instigated more than eight months earlier on July 30, 2005. The removal of the ban follows a winter recharge period, with four months of above average rainfall, which has improved key underground water sources across the company's supply area. These underground sources account for three-quarters of all South East Water's supplies. While restrictions have been lifted, the company is appealing to customers to use water wisely. This is particularly important because while the Met Office predicts that average or above average rainfall is likely to continue for the remainder of this winter, it has also warned that 2007 could be the warmest year yet. David Shore, director of assets at South East Water said: "With the recent rainfall now starting to refill our key underground sources, we are more confident of being able to meet demand for water if we have a normal spring and summer, and without the need to keep a ban in place. "Our customers responded magnificently with demand for water down by 10 per cent, even at the peak of last summer's heatwave. This, added to the ban, helped ensure we maintained essential supplies in one of the driest periods since the 1930s and the worst drought since 1976. Customers can log onto http://www.beatthedrought.com">www.beatthedrought.com or http://www.southeastwater.co.uk">www.southeastwater.co.uk for more information on water efficiency tips for the home and garden.
