Millions more people will be banned from using hosepipes as officials warn drought conditions are increasingly likely while the nation swelters in another lengthy heatwave.
Another record tumbled on Thursday when the UK recorded its eighth day at or above 34C in a calendar year, breaking the previous high of seven days set in the summer of 1976 and in 2020.
Officials said the risk of drought for some parts of the country in the coming weeks is also growing as it faces its third heatwave in three months following a record warm spring.
Water minister Emma Hardy met with water firm bosses last week to discuss their preparedness for a hot summer as strain on supplies intensifies.
Authorities are keeping a close watch on East Anglia, Devon and Cornwall, Hampshire and the Isle of Wight, while water companies are scrambling to manage increasingly tight resources.
Hosepipe bans have now been announced for the East of England, Cambridge, Hampshire, the Isle of Wight and areas of Kent.
Several firms including Thames Water and Yorkshire Water have also appealed to customers to take voluntary actions to limit their water use, though they have stopped short of introducing restrictions.
It comes as the UK faces growing pressure on its water system as human-driven climate change disrupts rainfall patterns and drives more extreme weather events.
This has been compounded by population increases as well as years of underinvestment in infrastructure putting further strain on the system, including no new reservoirs being built in 30 years and leaking pipes.
On Friday morning, Anglian Water announced a hosepipe ban for its more than five million customers in the East of England.
Customers will not be allowed to use hosepipes for watering gardens, washing cars or filling swimming and paddling pools from 1am on Saturday, but the utility has asked that people “live within the spirit of these restrictions immediately”.
Dr Geoff Darch, head of strategic asset planning for Anglian Water, said: “This year has been exceptionally hot and dry, and we’re already into the third heatwave of the summer.
“Every day of sustained hot weather increases the challenge of balancing supply and demand, and we are now at the point where we need to ask customers to help by hanging up the hosepipe, letting lawns go brown, cars go dirty and using water even more wisely to help protect the environment and ensure water remains available for all customers.”
Cambridge Water announced a temporary hosepipe ban for its 350,000 customers, marking the first time in three decades it has introduced the restriction.
In a notice on Thursday afternoon, the company said its teams are working around the clock to maintain supplies, but local water resources “are now under significant pressure” with demand reaching record levels after low levels of rainfall.
South East Water introduced a ban on July 3 for areas of Kent, including those in Ashford, Canterbury, Faversham, Maidstone, Sevenoaks, Snodland, Tenterden and Tunbridge Wells.
Hosepipe restrictions are also set to come into force for about one million Southern Water customers across Hampshire and the Isle of Wight on Friday.
As part of its response to growing pressure on water resources, the Government has announced a slew of reforms including plans for nine new reservoirs.
More than £104 billion in private investment has been committed to cutting leaking pipes, building these reservoirs and other measures to secure supplies.
Ministers are also preparing to respond to a consultation on proposals to change building rules so new homes are fitted with water efficient appliances.
An Environment Department (Defra) spokesperson said: “Customers deserve a reliable supply, which is why we’re investing in record infrastructure and nine new reservoirs, while our Water White Paper sets out long-term reforms for the sector to ensure assets are maintained and problems identified before they cause shortages.
“Hosepipe bans are a matter for water companies, but they can save water when supplies are stretched from peaks in demand.”
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Temperatures ‘hit record’ for most number of days to hit 34C in calendar year
