Hosepipe ban issued to millions of UK households – full list of water companies | UK | News

Millions of households in the UK have been warned they face £1,000 fines over cyclone bans as fears of drought grow widespread. This year’s hot weather continues to break records, with eight days above 34C in a single calendar year, and extremely dry weather has led many water companies to limit use.

Anglian Water, which serves much of the east of England, has today become the latest company to announce a hosepipe ban, which will come into force on 11 July. The company has more than 5 million customers.

Anglian Water’s head of strategic asset planning, Dr Geoff Darch, said: “This year has been extremely hot and dry and we are already into our third heatwave of the summer.”

“Persistent hot weather increases the challenge of balancing supply and demand, and we are now at the point where we need to ask our customers for help by turning off hoses, letting grass turn brown, cars getting dirty, and using water more wisely to help protect the environment and ensure water remains available to all customers.”

Southern Water has also confirmed a cyclone ban for customers in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight from Friday 10 July.

Cambridge Water announces temporary hose ban for 350,000 customers; this introduced the restriction for the first time in three decades.

South East Water deployed a temporary hoseline on Friday 3 July, including Ashford, Canterbury, Faversham, Maidstone, Sevenoaks, Snodland, Tenterden and Tunbridge Wells.

A tornado ban is different from an advisory announcement. Anyone caught breaking an official ban can be fined up to £1,000.

Another hose ban will be introduced by Affinity Water next Friday in the central region, affecting thousands of households in Bedfordshire, Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Essex, Hertfordshire, Surrey and parts of London.

The company said demand in this region was up 20% on average, but it was receiving less water than usual from the Grafham Water reservoir, which usually provides around 10% of the region’s supply.

Affinity Water said the ban will remain in effect until water supplies recover sufficiently and demand returns to a sustainable level.

Thames Water, which serves Greater London, advises: “At times we use water faster than we can deliver it through our network.

“Reducing your use at home, especially outside, will make the biggest difference. That’s why we ask our customers not to use hoses or sprinklers during heatwaves.”

Several amber heat health alerts have been put in place by the UK Health Safety Agency (UKHSA), lasting until Sunday 12 July and covering every region except the North East, where an amber alert is in place.

All UK households have been urged to limit water use during heatwaves, although some areas are not yet under a hosepipe ban.

Helen Wakeham, chair of the National Drought Group and the Environment Agency’s water director, said in June: “While many of us are enjoying warm weather, we are asking everyone to be mindful of their water use. Every drop saved leaves more usable space for farmers, our local rivers and wildlife.”

• South East Water
• Southern Water
• Cambridge Water
• Anglian Water
• Affinity Water (upcoming)