More than 20 million people across the UK and Ireland are currently under Temporary Use Bans, commonly known as hosepipe bans, following an intense summer of record-breaking heat. As drought conditions persist, water suppliers have restricted non-essential outdoor water usage to ensure supplies remain available for critical needs. The National Drought Group has announced that vast areas of the country—including East Anglia, the West Midlands, Devon, Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly, Lincolnshire and Northamptonshire, Hertfordshire and London, Wessex, Thames, Solent and the South Downs—are in a state of prolonged dry weather,
defined as the stage just before drought.
Widespread Restrictions Across England and Wales
The UK is facing a severe dry spell, and major utility companies have moved to implement mandatory conservation measures. Affinity Water, the country’s largest water-only supplier, provides drinking water to over 3.9 million people across three regions in the south east of England and imposed a ban for its central region on July 17. Households in Bedfordshire, Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Essex, Hertfordshire, Surrey and parts of London are impacted by these rules. Anglian Water, which serves homes from Grimsby in the north to Southend-on-Sea in the south and from Northampton and Milton Keynes in the west to Lowestoft and Great Yarmouth in the east, plus Hartlepool, implemented a temporary use ban for all customers on July 11.
Cambridge Water implemented restrictions across its whole region, serving a 730 square-kilometer area, effective July 17. In Wales, Dŵr Cymru Welsh Water has implemented restrictions for 33,000 properties across mid and south Ceredigion, north Pembrokeshire and north Carmarthenshire, effective July 19. South East Water, providing services across Kent, Sussex, Surrey, Hampshire, and Berkshire, implemented restrictions for customers in Kent on July 3. Southern Water has impacted households in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight since July 10, while South West Water implemented restrictions for customers in mid Devon and parts of east Devon on July 14.
Thames Water and Regional Impact
Thames Water has been the latest provider to announce a temporary ban for 10.1 million people. This ban, covering most of Greater London, Luton, the Thames Valley, Surrey, Gloucestershire, north Wiltshire and far west Kent, will come into force on July 23. This latest action brings the total number of Brits living under restrictions up to 20 million.
Water Conservation in Ireland
In Ireland, Uisce Éireann confirmed a Water Conservation Order is in force from 12:01 a.m. on Thursday, July 16, until 11:59 p.m. on Wednesday, August 26. These restrictions affect individuals across Dublin, south Tipperary, and parts of Kildare, Meath, Wexford, and Wicklow. Under the order, households and businesses are not permitted to use garden hosepipes or water for other non-essential purposes. While the ban applies to specific areas, Uisce Éireann is urging people across Ireland to cut back on unnecessary water use. The company stated it has stepped up leak repairs and pressure management to protect supplies, noting that the ban is necessary to ensure enough treated drinking water is available for essential needs. These restrictions could be lifted before August 26 if supplies recover or extended if dry conditions continue.
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