RESIDENTS in Dorset and the New Forest are being reassured over water supplies despite some parts of the country declaring a drought.

The Department for Environmental, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra), has said that Cambridgeshire, Northamptonshire and Lincolnshire were officially suffering a drought.

But the companies that serve Dorset and the New Forest said they were faring well, despite the driest spring since 1990 and the second driest since 1910.

Sembcorp Bournemouth Water said it had no plans for restrictions, but urged people to use water wisely – river levels were low.

MD Roger Harrington said: “We don’t anticipate the need for restrictions this year but, after an exceptionally dry spring, our message to customers is to be even more aware that water is a scarce commodity and to avoid waste where possible.

“Small changes in the home and your everyday behaviour can have a major impact on water consumption.”

Ian Drury, spokesman for Wessex Water, said: “We’ve not imposed a hosepipe ban for more than 30 years and we’ve no plans to do so this year.

“We would always urge customers to use water wisely.

“If there’s a shortage of water in one area, we have the ability to move it to another.

“We use reservoirs for storage, but the majority of our water comes from underground sources. A lack of rain does have an effect, but we don’t envisage any water restrictions.”

Southern Water said it did not expect to impose a hosepipe ban, saying that winter rainfall meant its stocks were around average.

Southern Water’s water strategy planning manager Meyrick Gough added: “We do not envisage having a restriction this summer, which is good news for our customers.

“However, we would also ask them to consider the water they use over the summer and think about how they can make their garden and home more water efficient.

“Not only will this help prevent water restrictions in the future, it will also help lower bills for those on a meter.”