People on The Long Walk in Windsor, Berkshire. Extreme heat across the UK is causing early harvests and forcing local authorities to introduce hosepipe bans as forecasters confirm that last month was western Europe’s hottest June on record. Picture date: Friday July 10, 2026. (Image: © 2026 PA Media, All Rights Reserved)
Millions of Britons will be banned from using hosepipes as officials warn drought conditions are increasingly likely while the nation swelters in another lengthy heatwave. The UK recorded its eighth day at or above 34C on Thursday, breaking the previous high of seven days set in the summer of 1976 and in 2020.
It comes after Anglian Water announced a hosepipe ban for its more than five million customers in the East of England. The ban will come into force from 1am on Saturday but the utility has asked that people “live within the spirit of these restrictions immediately”. However, the company has asked that people “live within the spirit of these restrictions immediately”.
According to the officials, 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. Hosepipe bans have now been announced for the East of England, Cambridge, Hampshire, the Isle of Wight and areas of Kent as well as parts of Bedfordshire, Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Essex, Hertfordshire, Surrey and London.
People enjoying the hot weather on the coast at Cullercoats Bay in North Tyneside. Extreme heat across the UK is causing early harvests and forcing local authorities to introduce hosepipe bans as forecasters confirm that last month was western Europe’s hottest June on record. Picture date: Friday July 10, 2026. (Image: © 2026 PA Media, All Rights Reserved)
Several firms have also urged customers to take voluntary actions to limit their water use, although they have stopped short of introducing restrictions.
On Friday afternoon, Affinity Water announced that it will introduce a hosepipe ban across its central region from July 17.
Customers across Bedfordshire, Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Essex, Hertfordshire, Surrey and parts of London must not use a hosepipe for activities such as watering gardens, washing cars, patios, paths and driveways, cleaning windows or filling swimming and paddling pools.
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.
People on The Long Walk in Windsor, Berkshire. Extreme heat across the UK is causing early harvests and forcing local authorities to introduce hosepipe bans as forecasters confirm that last month was western Europe’s hottest June on record. Picture date: Friday July 10, 2026. (Image: © 2026 PA Media, All Rights Reserved)
Cambridge Water announced a temporary hosepipe ban for its 350,000 customers, marking the first time in three decades it has introduced the restriction.
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.
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.
Separately, the Met Police urged people to avoid getting in touch for non-emergencies amid a surge in 999 calls during the hot weather and World Cup.
BATH, ENGLAND – JULY 12: A hosepipe waters dry grass on a lawn in a garden in the village of Priston on July 12, 2025 near Bath, England. The first regional hosepipe ban of 2025 has come into force across Yorkshire after months of extremely hot and dry weather across England, with more high temperatures forecast over the next few weeks. (Photo by Matt Cardy/Getty Images) (Image: Matt Cardy, Getty Images)
Deputy Metropolitan Police commissioner Matt Jukes has called on the public to “hold back” on non-emergency calls.
Speaking on LBC Radio on Friday ahead of a weekend when England plays again in the Fifa World Cup and temperatures are expected to remain high, he said: “We’re going to see more calls. We’re going to see more drinking. I hope we’re going to see more great goals for England, and we’re going to see success.”
He added: “Call us on the things we need to. Please hold back on the calls we don’t need to take.
“Officers out there are melting in the heat but they will be there to come to you if you need us.”
In a post on X, the London police force said people should only call 999 if there is “an immediate danger to life, someone is using or threatening violence, or a crime is happening right now”.