A WATER company dropped any plans to implement a hosepipe ban across Hampshire

Southern Water revealed after weeks of "significant rainfall" they have stopped their plans to apply to the Environment Agency (EA) for a drought permit.

This comes after bosses at the utility firm looked at this option in August over fears of dropping water levels in the River Test.

According to Southern Water's website, from October 1 to 6 around 100mm of rain poured into the river - 125 per cent of the month's long-term average.

The announcement added: "Since then the month has gone on to receive between 175 per cent and 235 per cent of its long-term average rainfall overall, with some of the higher totals falling in Hampshire."

Water resources policy and regulation manager at the utility company, Nigel Hepworth, said: "We’d like to thank all of our customers in Southampton and the surrounding area for being careful with their water use throughout the year.

"As a result of their considerate water use and recent rainfall, we’ve now agreed with the Environment Agency to formally stand-down our preparations for a drought permit, as there is no risk we’ll need one this winter. As always, we will continue to monitor the situation closely.

"We’ll need to check where things are at the end of this winter and keep our customers informed."

As reported, bosses at the water company said they were preparing to apply to the EA for a drought permit by August 26, which could have impacted 160,000 households.

This meant Temporary Use Bans (TUBs) could have been imposed from "late September" if a permit was approved.

A permit would have also allowed Southern Water to continue using the river, which they described as a “vital source of fresh water for south Hampshire”, if flows continued to drop.

The announcement came as the mercury hit 35 degrees in August, which was recorded at the Mottisfont weather station.

The highest temperature recorded at the station was 37.5 degrees in August 2003.