Severe Drought Declared in Sussex: What It Means for Brighton and Hove

The government declared severe drought in parts of East and West Sussex on 15 October 2026. Here is who is affected, who is not, and what you can do.

Tim

Published 00:33, Thursday, 29 October 20264 min read

Ardingly Reservoir in West Sussex, pictured in September 2020. The reservoir is at the centre of the Sussex severe drought declaration.

The government declared severe drought in parts of East Sussex and West Sussex on Thursday 15 October 2026, along with parts of Cornwall, Devon, Dorset and Somerset. It is the highest level of drought that can be declared.

For Brighton and Hove the picture depends on who supplies your water. The Sussex declaration centres on Ardingly reservoir, which is run by South East Water, and South East Water customers in Sussex are under a hosepipe ban. Southern Water, whose mains run under Brighton and Hove, has restrictions only in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight.

Sussex severe drought at a glance: declared on 15 October 2026 in parts of East Sussex and West Sussex, Ardingly reservoir 23 per cent full on 28 September, South East Water hosepipe ban with no exemptions from 9 October, a non-essential use ban applied for on 2 October, Southern Water restrictions only in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight — Sussex severe drought at a glance. Sources: GOV.UK, Environment Agency and South East Water.

What severe drought means

The Environment Agency says severe drought is used when drought is causing, or will soon cause, serious harm and emergency action is needed. It is not a civil emergency and does not automatically bring in new restrictions. The agency says 82% of England remains in drought, after the driest April to September in over a century in the South East and South West.

The government says customer supplies will be uninterrupted, but the declaration lets it act before any disruption. Its announcement on 15 October says water companies must monitor reservoir and river levels daily, the Environment Agency will step up checks on businesses that take water from rivers and other natural sources, and Local Resilience Forums will be stood up to prepare support if needed.

Environment Secretary Dame Angela Eagle said:

“This level of drought is something we have not experienced for decades, so this government is stepping up our support and planning.”
Dame Angela Eagle, Environment Secretary

Why Ardingly reservoir is the focus

Ardingly reservoir is in West Sussex and is run by South East Water. The government said it was 23% full on 28 September, when the Environment Agency would expect England’s reservoirs overall to be almost three-quarters full. The Environment Agency now lists Ardingly among 13 reservoirs or reservoir groups classed as exceptionally low.

South East Water introduced hosepipe restrictions in Sussex in July. From 9 October 2026 it removed all exemptions, so customers can use a hosepipe only where permitted for health, safety or welfare reasons. The company has also applied for a non-essential use ban, which would limit certain commercial and non-household uses of water if approved. Its Water latest page has the details.

The Environment Agency’s weekly report says South East Water is at drought level 3 in its Eastbourne and Haywards Heath supply zones, and that the agency granted the company a drought permit for the River Ouse (Ardingly reservoir) on 29 September.

What it means for Brighton and Hove

ImJustBrighton note: Our Western Road water main report named Southern Water as the owner of the leaking mains under the road. Southern Water says on its website that hosepipe restrictions are in place for customers in Hampshire and on the Isle of Wight, and the Environment Agency lists its other supply zones as business as usual.

That means there is no hosepipe ban for Southern Water customers in Brighton and Hove at the time of writing. Check which company supplies your home or business by entering your postcode on its website, because South East Water covers parts of Sussex.

Brighton and Hove drought restrictions by water company: Southern Water has a hosepipe ban only in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight, South East Water has a hosepipe ban across its area with no exemptions in Sussex from 9 October and drought level 3 in the Eastbourne and Haywards Heath zones — Which water company are you with? Sources: Environment Agency weekly drought report, 16 to 22 October 2026; Southern Water and South East Water websites.

Why the autumn rain has not ended it

Sussex has had a wet and windy spell. Our reports on Storm Austen and the Storm Boelo yellow rain warning cover the warnings. The Environment Agency says that has not been enough.

Its report for 16 to 22 October says England as a whole had received 52% of its long-term average October rainfall by then. Soils are still drier than expected, which limits how much rain soaks down to refill groundwater, and groundwater levels were still falling at many sites. National reservoir storage was 54% of capacity, about 22% below average for the time of year, with 18 reservoirs or groups less than half full.

On 2 October the government said the Environment Agency had warned that the country needs 120% of average rainfall over the coming seven months to be out of drought by next spring. The Environment Agency says it will keep publishing a weekly drought update on GOV.UK.

How to save water at home

The Environment Agency asks everyone to use water wisely, whether or not their supplier has restrictions. Its advice is to take shorter showers, fix leaks, use the eco setting on dishwashers and washing machines, and turn off the tap when brushing your teeth.