Overview
- The ban, imposed in July to protect the chalk streams during an extended dry spell, ended on Friday after more than three months.
- Southern Water said September–October rainfall and repairs to around 1,700 leaks saved over 17 million litres, reducing the need to abstract river water.
- The Test and Itchen supply most local customers and host rare wildlife, so cutting abstraction was a priority during the drought.
- The company thanked households for conserving water, reporting savings of millions of litres each day during the restriction.
- Southern Water highlighted longer-term resilience plans, including the Havant Thicket reservoir, water recycling projects and transfer links, as officials urge continued careful use with drought risks projected into 2026.