SOUTH East Water has lifted its hosepipe-and- sprinkler ban for 1.5 million customers in Hampshire, Surr-ey, Sussex, Kent and Berk- shire. The ban was lifted on Wednesday, bringing to an official end the ban imposed in Hampshire, Surrey and Berk-shire on April 3 last year, following a similar ban in Sussex and Kent introduced in July 2005. The removal of the ban follows a winter "recharge" period, with four months of above- average rainfall, which has improved 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.
