A water company serving most of Sussex has been granted a drought order but will not enforce it - yet.

The Government yesterday allowed Southern Water to ban all non-essential use including watering gardens with hoses or sprinklers and filling swimming pools. The order gives the company the right to impose the most draconian water ban in the county for 16 years.

In a last-minute change of heart, Southern Water announced enough rain had fallen in the past two months to partly re-stock reservoirs.

It offers a temporary reprieve for business owners and organisations who say they could go under as a result of the order.

But with the Met Office saying rainfall expected over the summer months would not be enough to "alleviate the water shortages affecting some regions", the order could still be imposed at 72 hours notice.

Southern Water chief executive Les Dawson said: "I am pleased to say the recent wet weather allows us not to implement the order immediately."

Brighton Racecourse, Esso and Homebase objected to the ban and many firms could still face severe cuts and major loss of earnings.

Robbie Raggio, owner of Hove Station Car Wash, said he was prepared to take legal action against Southern Water if he was banned from using water.

He said: "We are going to contest it, we are going to get round it somehow. I don't care what it takes. We employ eight people who have mortgages to pay and families to look after and I will not let them down."

Laurence Boon, co-owner of Benfield Valley Golf Course in Hove, said his greens would last six weeks without rain or regular watering. He said: "It's a pain and would be a nightmare if we lose our greens."

Sussex County Cricket Club has applied for an exemption.

Chief executive, Hugh Griffiths, said: "We're hoping Defra will see the difference between a professional club and amateur club."

The drought order authorised by the Government yesterday bans a series of "non essential" uses. If it is enforced consumers will be banned from doing the following:

Watering gardens, allotments, parks, and sports ground by hosepipe or sprinkler.

Filling private swimming pools other than ones used for medical treatment.

Filling ornamental ponds other than those with wildlife in them.

Using mechanical vehicle washers.

Washing cars, boats, trains and aircraft.

Cleaning the outside of buildings other than windows.

Cleaning windows with a hose or sprinkler.

Cleaning industrial premises.

Using ornamental fountains and cascades.

Using automatic toilets in empty buildings.

Friday, May 26, 2006