A new hosepipe ban has been announced today amid "serious concerns" over their water supply.
Some 1.4 million residents across Kent and Sussex, served by South East Water, have been handed a "temporary use ban restriction" in a bid to protect supplies.
From Friday July 11, locals are barred from using their hoses for watering their gardens, washing cars, windows and patios, or filling swimming and paddling pools.
The firm has warned of "record-breaking demand" for drinking water in the two historic counties as they brace for a third heatwave of summer.
From Friday, locals are barred from using their hoses for watering their gardens, washing cars, windows and patios, or filling swimming and paddling pools (file photo)
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Demand has soared to some 680 million litres on June 30 - 105 million litres of water a day more than the summer average.
South East Water also said it was aware of "a number of leaks on the network" - with a statement vowing it was "working hard" to fix them.
It also claimed it had "no choice" but to restrict the use of hosepipes and sprinklers in the pair - and "continues to monitor the situation" for customers in parts of Surrey, Hampshire and Berkshire.
The firm has also detailed its six-stage plan for enforcing the ban.
It says customers wrongly using their hoses will see two letters, a phone call or text, a visit in person, a reference to SEW's Temporary Use Ban team, and then a reference to its legal team for a potential prosecution.
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Locals in South East Water's West Kent, Mid Kent and Sussex regions have had their access to water restricted
SOUTH EAST WATER
David Hinton, the chief executive of South East Water, said: "Providing the public water supply during this prolonged period of hot and dry weather continues to be challenging.
"Water supply resources have been significantly stretched, but are pleased that so far we have been able to largely meet customer demands."
He added: "However, we know that continued demand at this level presents a serious concern to ensure that we can protect the environment and keep everyone supplied.
"Despite asking for customers' help to use water for essential uses only, regrettably, we've now been left with no choice but to introduce this to protect customers' supplies and the environment across Kent and Sussex.
Yorkshire was also subjected to a ban after being moved to 'drought' status after its driest spring for 132 years
PA"We continue to monitor the long-term weather forecast, and will review this decision on a regular basis.
"Restricting the use of hosepipes and sprinklers to make sure we have enough water for our customers' essential use will ensure we can serve our vulnerable customers and to protect the local environment."
The ban in Sussex and Kent follows a greater restriction in Yorkshire just days ago, affecting some five million Britons.
Yorkshire Water confirmed that a ban, which also comes into effect from Friday, could last "into the winter months".
"God's Own Country" was subjected to the ban following its driest spring on record, with the region experiencing just 15cm of rainfall between February and June.
Across the country, a total of 15 "hydrological areas" had the driest March to May period since records began in 1871, including eight in northeast England, three in the southeast and four around the Welsh border in central and southwest England.