Millions asked to stop using hosepipes amid record-breaking UK heatwave

WorldEnvironment
30 May 2026 • 5:03 PM MYT
The Independent
The Independent

The world’s most free-thinking newspaper

Millions asked to stop using hosepipes amid record-breaking UK heatwave

  • Millions in the UK have been asked by Thames Water to stop using hosepipes due to a record-breaking May heatwave gripping the southeast.
  • The water company reported a surge in demand, with some areas experiencing up to a 50 per cent increase in water usage.
  • Temperatures reached as high as 35.1C in Kew Gardens, breaking previous May records across 163 stations.
  • The heat will continue on Saturday with temperatures set to reach up to 30C in some areas including London.
  • Thames Water advised customers to use watering cans instead of hoses, reuse water where possible, and delay tasks like car washing.

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