 All residents are urged to continue saving water during the autumn |
A company which supplies water to areas of east Surrey, West Sussex and west Kent has recorded its 10th consecutive month of below average rainfall. Sutton and East Surrey Water said the lower than normal levels for August would contribute to the "serious drought situation" in the South East.
It has had a sprinkler and unattended hosepipe ban in place since April.
The latest rainfall figures were 3mm (0.1in) below the company's long-term average for August.
It said the South East had experienced the second driest November to June period since 1949.
Operations director Mike Hegarty said: "We must all hope for an early wet autumn followed by a prolonged wet winter."
He said underground supplies, from which 85% of the company's water resources are drawn, urgently needed to be recharged.
The remaining 15% comes from the two-thirds full Bough Beech reservoir, between Sevenoaks and Tonbridge in Kent.
The company's supply area extends from Gatwick Airport up into south London, and from Cobham, Leatherhead and Dorking in Surrey to Edenbridge and Bough Beech in west Kent.
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Shadow of drought
