Hosepipe ban map: Is my area under restrictions during record UK heatwave?
A UK water company introduced a hose ban as temperatures began to rise, and households across the country have been advised to limit hose use.
South East Water has implemented a formal temporary hose use ban covering most of the Kent area. Other areas served by the company – Surrey, Hampshire, Berkshire and Sussex (both East and West) – have also been advised to cease all use.
A tornado ban is different from an advisory announcement. Anyone caught breaking an official ban can be fined up to £1,000.
The company said the total amount of water treated by South East Water on Sunday was 644 million litres; this was 56 million liters above the June average (588 million litres).
This came after the Met Office recorded a temporary highest outdoor temperature of 36.1C at Gosport in Hampshire on Wednesday, surpassing the previous highest temperature of 35.6C set in 1976 and the record being broken four times in the day.
South East Water is currently the only company to impose a formal ban. But Wessex Water asked customers to limit their use, writing on social media: “Grass is tougher than it looks. It copes naturally with hot, dry weather and bounces back quickly when rain returns.”
“With the weather getting warmer, this is an easy way to save water and can even help reduce weeds.”
Affinity Water, which serves many areas outside Greater London, also asked customers to “use water wisely this week”.
Rather than a mandatory hosepipe ban with a fine, a red alert is a request that customers use water only for essential reasons. There is no official tornado ban yet.
As temperatures rise, various health warnings have been put in place; The Met Office has issued a rare red weather warning covering areas including London, Swansea, Somerset and Birmingham from 9am on Wednesday until 9pm on Thursday.
An amber weather warning for temperatures covers all of Wales and England up to Blackpool between Monday and Thursday.
Met Office deputy chief forecaster Mark Sidaway said: “Red alerts are reserved for the most severe events and we expect this heatwave to have severe and significant impacts, with health impacts likely to occur for many people, even beyond those normally more vulnerable to the heat.
“In addition to very high temperatures during the day, there will also be nights called tropical nights where the temperature does not drop below 20 degrees. This will make it very difficult for people to get rid of the daytime heat and will further increase the effects of heat stress.”
All households were asked to limit water use during the heatwave. Helen Wakeham, chair of the National Drought Group and water director at the Environment Agency, said: “We enter the summer in a generally positive position, but we can never become complacent ahead of these critical dry months.
“Heat waves will continue to be a concern as they can cause sudden increases in water demand, so we need to continue to work collaboratively to use our limited water wisely.
“While many of us are enjoying the warm weather, we’re asking everyone to be mindful of their water use. Every drop saved leaves more available space for farmers, our local rivers and wildlife.”
