Thames Water has announced a hosepipe ban affecting over 10 million customers across London, the Thames Valley, and the home counties. The restriction, which officially begins at 12:01 a.m. on Thursday, has been requested to be followed immediately by households.
This temporary use ban (TUB) prohibits non-essential activities such as watering gardens, washing cars, filling paddling pools, or topping up hot tubs. The company has cited surging demand driven by exceptionally dry and hot weather, with water usage currently 10% above normal in the Thames Valley and Home Counties, and 7% above normal in London. This equates to an additional 100 million liters of water used daily, the equivalent of adding all the homes in Manchester to the network.
The decision comes as large parts of southern, central, and eastern England have moved closer to official drought status, according to the Environment Agency. The current heat follows three consecutive heatwaves and the driest spring on record for England and Wales.
Thames Water joins several other water companies that have already implemented similar restrictions this summer. These include Anglian Water (5 million customers in eastern England), Affinity Water (3.9 million customers in central areas and parts of London), Cambridge Water (350,000 customers), South East Water (2.4 million customers across Sussex, Surrey, Hampshire, and Berkshire, in addition to existing restrictions in Kent), and Southern Water (1 million customers in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight).
Nevil Muncaster, director of strategic water resources at Thames Water, stated that the ban is necessary to protect water supplies for customers and the environment. He acknowledged that while essential use is covered, reducing non-essential outdoor demand is crucial to maintain flowing taps. Muncaster also noted that Thames Water teams are working to maintain water flow, fix leaks, and support customers.
The Thames Water region received only 40% of its average rainfall in the spring, followed by prolonged hot weather. This has significantly impacted water resources, despite the company's planning for dry periods and increased summer demand.
The Environment Agency reports that six reservoirs are currently at "notably low" levels, and others, like the Blagdon reservoir in Somerset, are "exceptionally low." River levels are also affected, with only 13% classified as normal for this time of year, and several rivers experiencing exceptionally low levels.
Helen Wakeham, chair of the National Drought Group and director of water at the Environment Agency, urged the public to conserve water to ensure sufficient supply for nature and agriculture. She also emphasized staying hydrated during the hot weather.
Amidst the water crisis, reports indicate that Thames Water's lenders are in discussions with the government regarding a revised rescue deal. This includes the possibility of offering a "golden share" to the government as an alternative to nationalization. The lenders are reportedly considering "material improvements" to their previous proposal to address government concerns about public control and accountability within the water industry.