More than 40 million facing hosepipe ban as heatwave continues to scorch UK – with temperatures of 35C or higher recorded on six separate days in a year for first time

More than 40 million people have been banned from hosepipes or told to watch their water use as Britain suffers its third heatwave this year.

Five water companies currently have severe restrictions; It prevents approximately 11 million people from using hoses to water plants and lawns, wash cars or fill children’s pools.

33 million people are called to be ‘careful’ about water use. This recommendation usually precedes the tornado ban.

Experts warn the risk of drought is increasing as temperatures in places such as Derbyshire and Hertfordshire were recorded above 35C (95F) yesterday.

Anglian Water’s restrictions, which will affect five million residents in eastern England, will come into force today.

Dr Geoff Darch, the company’s head of planning, said: ‘We are now at the point where we need customers to help by turning off hoses, allowing grass to turn brown and cars to get dirty.’

Affinity Water has also told 3.8 million customers in areas including Bedfordshire, Berkshire and Surrey to control their usage ‘immediately’, with a full ban coming into force next Friday.

Southern Water also introduced a cyclone ban across Hampshire and the Isle of Wight, affecting nearly a million customers.

And Cambridge Water has imposed restrictions on its 350,000 customers, warning that supplies are ‘currently under significant pressure’.

Last week South East Water imposed a hose ban on around 850,000 customers across Kent, including Ashford, Canterbury, Faversham, Maidstone, Sevenoaks and Tunbridge Wells.

Once a relatively rare measure (there was only one major tornado ban between 2012 and 2021), it has become a regular summer feature as temperatures have risen in recent years.

Temperatures reached as high as 35.2C at Coton in the Elms in Derbyshire yesterday. The Met Office said this marks the first time temperatures of 35C or higher have been recorded on six separate days of the year.

Water companies are now being called on to improve their infrastructure to cope with more frequent high temperatures.

Mike Keil, chief executive of the Water Consumer Council, said: ‘There is no hiding from climate change and things once considered extreme are quickly becoming the new normal.

‘Water companies have been entrusted with an unprecedented amount of customer money through massive water bill increases to meet this challenge, and now they must deliver and deliver the nine new reservoirs and other network improvements they have promised.

‘Some of these changes will take time, but water companies should strive to exceed, and not just meet, leakage reduction targets and use the largest ever rollout of smart water meters to help people not only save water but understand why it’s important.’

A woman sunbathing under an umbrella at the beach in Exmouth, Devon, on Friday afternoon

Paddleboarders Olivia, 20, and Abbie Selby, 17, at Cullercoats Bay in North Tyneside on Friday

Thames Water said that in other regions the heatwave had caused a 30 per cent increase in water use, with an extra billion liters of water consumed in London alone.

The company asked its 16 million customers to limit their use, but gave up before the hose ban came.

Essex and Suffolk Water also warned 300,000 customers to be ‘careful’ about their water use.

Kieran Ingram, the company’s water director, said: ‘Our customers can help reduce water-related risks by making smart choices now. [a hosepipe ban] is needed.’

Portsmouth Water, Wessex Water, Severn Trent Water and Yorkshire Water made similar demands to almost 17 million customers.

It comes after authorities warned that drought conditions were becoming increasingly likely in parts of England, including East Anglia, Devon and Cornwall.

Temperatures in south-east England have been above 30C for five consecutive days.

Wisley in Surrey was the hottest place in England with temperatures of 35.5 and 33.8 degrees on Wednesday and Thursday.

Prior to this, London was the warmest region for four consecutive days, with 32.4°C at Teddington on Tuesday, 34.0°C at Teddington on Monday, 30.3°C at Heathrow on Sunday and 29.3°C at Teddington on Saturday.

Parts of south-east England have officially been in a heatwave since last Saturday and forecasters believe this threshold will continue to be met next week.

Conditions may yet be record-breaking, given that the historic heatwave of 1976 lasted 16 consecutive days, with temperatures reaching at least 30C every day in London from 23 June to 8 July.

The current heatwave was expected to peak on Friday with a high of 36C in the Southeast, followed by a slight decline to 30C this weekend and 28C early next week.

But these temperatures will still be enough to reach heatwave levels, which vary across the UK but are 28C in London, which should be recorded for at least three days.

Forecasters said that conditions will get a little colder but dry in the Southeast from next week due to easterly winds, while the warmest conditions will shift to southwest England, where storms may also occur.