England's Southern Water authority has banned water tankers from extracting supplies in drought-hit Hampshire after deliveries were used to help fill a lake on the Wiltshire estate of billionaire Stephen Schwarzman, reported BBC News.

Tankers were filmed by residents collecting water from standpipes in Andover, Hampshire, where a drought order is in place. The water was then transported to Conholt Park, an estate owned by Mr Schwarzman, just over the border in Wiltshire, which is not under drought restrictions.

A spokesman for Mr Schwarzman confirmed a small portion of the water was used to fill a newly constructed lake, stating it was sourced through licensed providers and primarily intended for irrigation. The estate is undergoing extensive redevelopment following its GBP80 million (US$108 million) purchase in 2022.

Southern Water said the water extraction was legal under current rules, as construction use is not covered by domestic drought restrictions. However, managing director Tim McMahon said he was "appalled" and imposed an immediate ban on tanker access to standpipes.

The company, which serves over two million customers, was alerted by locals who tracked tanker movements. Laurence Leask, an air conditioning inspector, said he had followed tankers at 03:00 BST and estimated up to 30 tankers a day, equating to around one million litres daily.

Residents expressed outrage over the situation, citing the ongoing hosepipe ban. Trevor Marshall, who documented tanker traffic, said it was "incredibly outrageous" given local restrictions.

Southern Water said it would conduct a thorough review and tighten internal monitoring and legal loopholes. Blackstone, Mr Schwarzman's firm, denied any breach of regulations and said water was sourced from multiple locations, largely outside the region.