Five million people are facing a new hosepipe ban, as the number of Brits barred from using hoses to water their gardens, wash their cars and fill up swimming pools amid the ongoing heatwave grows. Anglican Water announced restrictions on Friday for people in the East of England, preventing people from using a hosepipe from 1am on Saturday.
It asked people to “live within the spirit of these restrictions immediately” as soaring temperatures increase the likelihood of drought conditions. 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.”
The risk of drought is particularly high in East Anglia, Devon, and Cornwall. Elsewhere, Southern Water implemented restrictions for one million customers across Hampshire and the Isle of White, starting Friday.
Cambridge Water also announced a temporary ban for its 350,000 customers for the first time in some 30 years. It warned that local water resources “are now under significant pressure” as demand reaches record levels after little rainfall.
South East Water took similar action on July 3 for areas of Kent, including Ashford, Canterbury, Faversham, Maidstone, Sevenoaks, Snodland, Tenterden, and Tunbridge Wells.
This comes as the third heatwave of the year continues into the weekend and next week, with highs of 34C expected in South-west England on Saturday, and 33C on Sunday.
Met Office Deputy Chief Forecaster Tom Crabtree said: “High pressure is expected to remain in charge through much of next week, but it will gradually migrate northwards.
“This means that an easterly wind will become established in the south, and the focus for the hottest conditions will migrate towards the southwest.
“As a result, some places that have seen the highest temperatures during recent weeks will begin to cool. It will however, remain very warm – especially in the southwest – and heatwave thresholds may continue to be met in places.
“The overall signal is for continued fine, dry and very warm weather at times for many parts of the UK into next week. There is however a chance of thunderstorms spreading into parts of the south and southwest.”