TAKE NOTICE that due to the threat of a serious deficiency in supplies of water within the affected area, caused by an exceptional shortage of rainfall, Southern Water Services Limited of Southern House, Yeoman Road, Worthing, West Sussex BN13 3NX (“Southern Water”) is applying to the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs for a Drought Order under sections 73 and 74(2)(b) of the Water Resources Act 1991.

The affected area includes all Southern Water Supply Areas of Hampshire and in the Isle of Wight Supply Area as defined in Southern Water’s drought plan. The affected area is also indicated on the map accompanying this notice.

The Drought Order is necessary to manage the demand for water in order to meet the deficiency of supplies of water in the area. The uses of water which can be prohibited or limited under the Drought Order are those prescribed by the Secretary of State in The Drought Direction 2011. The Direction can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/the-drought-direction-2011.

These activities are in addition to the activities covered by the Temporary Use Ban which will be in place from 21 July 2025 for domestic customers in this area. Further details on Southern Water’s Temporary Use Ban in the area may be found: https://www.southernwater.co.uk/hosepipeban

This notice and further details concerning the prohibitions and current drought and water efficiency advice may be found on Southern Water’s website here: https://www.southernwater.co.uk/drought-restrictions

Thank you for your support at this important time.

The proposed Drought Order will allow Southern Water to prohibit or limit the use of water within the area referred to for any of the following purposes:

Purpose 1: Watering outdoor plants on commercial premises using a hosepipe;

Purpose 2: Filling or maintaining a non-domestic swimming or paddling pool;

Purpose 3: Filling or maintaining a pond;

Purpose 4: Operating a mechanical vehicle-washer;

Purpose 5: Cleaning any vehicle, boat, aircraft or railway rolling stock using a hosepipe;

Purpose 6: Cleaning of any exterior part of a non-domestic building or a non-domestic wall using a hosepipe;

Purpose 7: Cleaning a window of a non-domestic building using a hosepipe;

Purpose 8: Cleaning industrial plant using a hosepipe;

Purpose 9: Suppressing dust using a hosepipe; and Purpose

10: Operating a cistern in any building that is unoccupied and closed.

The following definitions apply:

• “Commercial Premises” means any land, building or other structure which is not used principally as a dwelling;

• “Health or Safety Reasons” means removing or minimizing risk to human or animal health or safety; and preventing or controlling the spread of causative agents of disease;

• “Hosepipe” includes anything designed, adapted or used to serve the same purpose as a hosepipe. The prohibitions apply whether or not any device is attached to the hosepipe, such as a sprinkler for example;

• “National Plant Collection” means a plant collection which is part of Plant Heritage (formerly the National Council for the Conservation of Plants and Gardens’ National Plant Collection scheme);

• “Non-domestic building” means a building or any other structure which is not principally used as a dwelling;

• “Temporary garden or flower display” means a display at a show or exhibition for no longer than 7 days; and

• “Using a hosepipe” includes drawing water supplied by Southern Water through a hosepipe from a container and filling a container with water supplied by Southern Water by means of a hosepipe.

Applicable definitions may be found in:

• The Drought Direction 2011, which is available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/the-drought-direction-2011

• The Water Use (Temporary Bans) Order 2010, which is available at: https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2010/2231/contents/made

Statutory Exceptions

Customers who wish to use water for the actions below can continue to use water without having to make representation to Southern Water to receive permission. In using water, it is requested that customers use water wisely and adopt water efficient practices.

• Purpose 1 does not include watering plants that are: grown or kept for sale or commercial use; or part of a National Plant Collection or temporary garden or flower display.

• Purpose 2 does not include:

o Filling or maintaining a pool that is open to the public;

o Filling or maintaining a pool where necessary in the course of its construction;

o Filling or maintaining a pool using a hand-held container which is filled with water drawn directly from a tap;

o Filling or maintaining a pool that is designed, constructed or adapted for use in the course of a programme of medical treatment;

o Filling or maintaining a pool that is used for the purpose of decontaminating animals from infections or disease;

o Filling or maintaining a pool that is used in the course of a programme of veterinary treatment;

o Filling or maintaining a pool in which fish or other aquatic animals are being reared or kept in captivity;

o Filling or maintaining a pool that is for use by pupils of a school for school swimming lessons.

• Purpose 2: a pool is not open to the public if it may only be used by paying members of an affiliated club or organisation.

• Purpose 3 does not include: filling or maintaining a pond in which fish or other aquatic animals are being reared or kept in captivity; or filling or maintaining a pond using a handheld container which is filled with water drawn directly from a tap.

• Purpose 3 does not include filling or maintaining a domestic pond using a hosepipe.

• Purpose 5 permits the cleaning of any vehicle, boat, aircraft or railway rolling stock for health or safety reasons.

• Purpose 6 permits the cleaning of any exterior part of a non-domestic building or a non-domestic wall for health or safety reasons.

• Purpose 7 permits the cleaning a window of a non-domestic building using a hosepipe for health or safety reasons.

• Purpose 8 permits the cleaning industrial plant using a hosepipe for health or safety reasons.

• Purpose 9 permits the suppression of dust using a hosepipe for health or safety reasons.

Non-Statutory Common Exceptions

Customers who meet the criteria below for a Non-Statutory Common Exception can continue to use water without having to make representation to receive permission to use water for the following restricted uses. It is requested that customers that meet the requirements for a Non-Statutory Common Exception use water wisely and adopt water efficient practices.

The criteria for a Non-Statutory Common Exception include, for example:

• Use of a hosepipe by individuals who are either registered on Southern Water Services Limited’s Priority Services Register, are a Blue Badge holder or WaterSure customer, and who have mobility or health conditions that prevent them from using a watering can or bucket.

Restricted uses that would be exempt under this Non-Statutory Common Exception:

• Purpose 1: Watering outdoor plants on commercial premises

• Purpose 2: Filling or maintaining a non-domestic swimming or paddling pool

• Purpose 4: Operating a mechanical vehicle-washer

• Purpose 5: Cleaning any vehicle, boat, aircraft or railway rolling stock

• Purpose 6: Cleaning non-domestic premises

• Purpose 7: Cleaning a window of a non-domestic building

• Purpose 8: Cleaning industrial plant

• Purpose 9: Suppressing dust

• Purpose 10: Operating cisterns

“Blue Badge” means a current valid Blue Badge issued by the relevant Local Authority in accordance with the Disabled Persons (Badges for Motor Vehicles) (England) Regulations 2000 (SI 2000/682) and Section 21 of the Chronically Sick and Disabled Persons Act 1970 (as amended).

Non-Statutory Bespoke Exceptions

Customers can make representation to Southern Water Services Limited to receive a Non-Statutory Bespoke Exception to use water for a restricted use. If permission for a Non-Statutory Bespoke Exception is given, it is requested that customers use water wisely and adopt water efficient practices.

A full list of events considered to be Non-Statutory Bespoke Exceptions will be published on the Southern Water website here: https://www.southernwater.co.uk/drought-restrictions.

Southern Water follows a phased approach to reduce demand in the event of a drought. A full explanation of drought triggers and proposed actions may be found in Southern Water’s Drought Plan 2019 which is available here: https://southernwater.co.uk/about-us/our-plans/drought-plan/

Please note that the Non-Statutory Bespoke Exceptions (including exceptions relating to the Temporary Use Bans which will be in place from 21 July 2025) may change based on whether drought conditions worsen and in accordance with the phased approach in Southern Water’s Drought Plan.

A full list of the statutory exceptions may be found in The Drought Direction 2011, which is available here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/the-drought-direction-2011 and on the Southern Water website here: https://www.southernwater.co.uk/drought-restrictions

Representations

Anyone may inspect the proposals, free of charge, at the following locations, during the specified times for a period of seven calendar days from Monday 21st July 2025 up to and including Sunday 27th July 2025:

• Southern Water’s head office at Southern House, Yeoman Road, Worthing, West Sussex, BN13 ENX;

Between the hours of 10:00 – 16:00, Monday to Friday

• Totton Library in Library Road, Totton, Southampton SO40 3RS;

Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday: 9:30 to 17:00

Friday: 9:30 to 13:30

Sunday and Wednesday – closed

• Eastleigh Library at 1st Floor, Swan Centre, Eastleigh SO50 5SF

Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday: 9:30 to 17:00

Monday: 9:30 to 13:30

Sunday and Wednesday - closed

Summaries of the application will be hosted at https://www.southernwater.co.uk/drought-restrictions and further details of technical aspects can be obtained by emailing droughtplan@southernwater.co.uk

Objections may be made in writing to the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, c/o Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, Water Resources Policy, Seacole 3rd Floor, 2 Marsham Street, London, SW1P 4DF (or by e-mail to water.resources@defra.gov.uk), giving an address to which correspondence relating to the objection may be sent. Objections should be made immediately and in any event received by midnight (00:00) on Sunday 27 July 2025.

Next Steps

The Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs will decide whether a public hearing or inquiry shall be convened. Further information on this will be available online at https://www.southernwater.co.uk/drought-restrictions. If the Secretary of State grants the drought order, Southern Water will publish another notice confirming this, which will include the date that the restrictions commence.

Southern Water Services Limited

15 July 2025