- Southern Water has announced a hosepipe ban affecting nearly a million customers in Hampshire and on the Isle of Wight.
- The restrictions will commence from 9am on Monday, following the driest UK spring in decades.
- Millions of households are already facing water restrictions, with similar bans implemented or announced by other utility firms like Yorkshire and Thames Water.
- Reservoir levels across England are critically low at 75.6 per cent, with some areas like Yorkshire at 53.8 per cent.
- The Environment Agency has warned of further bans, as drought status has been declared in several English regions, including the East and West Midlands.
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