More than 40 million people in the United Kingdom are now under hosepipe bans or urged to conserve water as the country experiences its third heatwave of the year. Five water companies have implemented severe restrictions, affecting approximately 11 million customers who are prohibited from using hosepipes for gardening, car washing, or filling paddling pools. An additional 33 million customers are being advised to be mindful of their water usage, a measure that often precedes formal bans.
The increasing risk of drought is a significant concern, with temperatures surpassing 35C (95F) on multiple days. Yesterday, temperatures reached 35.2C in Coton in the Elms, Derbyshire, marking the first time the 35C threshold has been met on six separate days within a single year, according to the Met Office. This prolonged period of high temperatures has led to parched landscapes, as seen in Greenwich Park, London.
Anglian Water's restrictions, impacting five million residents in the East of England, took effect today. Dr. Geoff Darch, the company's head of planning, urged customers to "hang up the hosepipe, letting lawns go brown and cars go dirty." Affinity Water has also instructed 3.8 million customers across Bedfordshire, Berkshire, and Surrey to control their usage immediately, with a full ban to follow next Friday. Southern Water has imposed a ban on about one million customers in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight, while Cambridge Water has introduced restrictions for its 350,000 customers, citing significant pressure on resources.
Last week, South East Water initiated a hosepipe ban for around 850,000 customers in Kent. These measures, once relatively rare, have become a more common occurrence in recent summers due to rising temperatures.
Water companies are facing calls to improve infrastructure to better manage frequent high temperatures. Mike Keil, chief executive of the Consumer Council for Water, stated that "what was once considered to be extreme is rapidly becoming the new normal" and emphasized that water companies must deliver promised improvements, including new reservoirs and network upgrades, funded by customer bills. He also called for companies to exceed leakage reduction targets and utilize smart water meters to help consumers understand their usage.
Thames Water reported a 30% increase in water usage due to the heatwave, consuming an additional billion liters in London alone. While the company has asked its 16 million customers to limit use, it has not yet implemented a hosepipe ban. Essex and Suffolk Water have also cautioned 300,000 customers to be mindful of their water consumption.
Officials have warned that drought conditions are increasingly likely in parts of the UK, including East Anglia, Devon, and Cornwall. Southeast England has experienced temperatures above 30C for five consecutive days. The current heatwave was predicted to peak on Friday with highs of 36C in the South-East, before a slight decrease to around 30C over the weekend and 28C early next week. While cooler, these temperatures will still meet the threshold for a heatwave in many regions.