Thames Water to impose hosepipe ban in ‘coming weeks’

Thames Water has said it will impose a hosepipe ban in coming weeks, becoming the latest water company to announce that it will impose restrictions as the country’s dry weather persists.

Thames Water provides water to around 15 million people.

“Given the long term forecast of dry weather and another forecast of very hot temperatures coming this week we are planning to announce a temporary use ban in the coming weeks,” a Thames Water spokesperson said.

Thames Water said it could not yet confirm the date due to a “number of operational and legal procedural requirements” but would be updating its customers as soon as possible.

It is the latest water company in England and Wales to announce that it will restrict customers’ water use due to the prolonged dry spell.

Southern Water has already imposed restrictions in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight, while restrictions on customers of South East Water in Kent and Sussex will come into effect on Friday.

Welsh Water has said a hosepipe ban will come into effect for Pembrokshire on 19 August. The Isle of Man has also introduced a hosepipe ban.

When asked if all 15 million be affected by the ban, Thames Water said all details would be confirmed at “a later date.”

The hosepipe ban comes after southern England recorded its driest July on record, while the country more broadly experienced its driest July since 1935.

With a heatwave forecast for large parts of the UK in coming days, dry weatherdue to persisit for much of the country raising the prospect that the government will have to announce a drought in some areas.

Earlier on Tuesday the Met Office issued a four-day extreme heat weather warning for later this week, and a heat health alert issued by the UK health security agency came into effect.

Scientists have warned that the climate emergency is expected to bring hotter summers to the UK and with them the potential for more impactful droughts.