More than half the region’s water (up to 85% in some places) comes from underground aquifers. These aquifers rely on winter rainfall to fill them up to meet demands for water in spring and summer. But climate change is having a huge impact on rainfall patterns – including how much rain we receive and when and where it falls.

Rainfall patterns vary every year, with some falling below long-term averages. February 2020 was the wettest on record, however July 2022 was the driest for almost 70 years. This variability makes it harder to plan a long time ahead with certainty of what the future holds.

The South East typically experiences droughts more often than other regions in the UK. This was shown in the summer of 2022 as water companies in our region were the first to introduce temporary use (or hosepipe) bans.

These bans are needed to protect the natural environment and help companies maintain essential supplies.

If we don't increase our resilience, we risk needing more severe restrictions on how we use water. The National Infrastructure Commission estimates the daily economic cost of this could be £1.3 billion.

Balancing increasing demand for water while protecting and improving the environment is essential.

The South East is home to eight key rivers, and dozens of rare, iconic chalk streams. Over a quarter of the South East is a designated Area of Outstanding Beauty and 8% of the region is within National Parks. Protecting these habitats is of the utmost importance so we must ensure we strike the right balance.