UK Water Companies Introduce Hosepipe Bans for Millions Amid Hot Weather

Millions of UK water customers face hosepipe bans over the coming days and weeks as water companies respond to sustained high temperatures and rising drought concerns, The Independent reported. Anglian Water, which serves more than 5 million customers in the East of England, introduced its ban on Saturday 11 July.

Affinity Water began a ban for most customers on Friday 10 July covering large areas of Bedfordshire, Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Hertfordshire and Surrey.

South East Water imposed a temporary ban across much of Kent on Friday 3 July, following an earlier restriction in the county during June. Southern Water will start a ban for customers in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight on Friday 10 July. Cambridge Water announced a temporary ban for its 350,000 customers, the first such restriction in three decades.

The UK recorded its eighth day at or above 34C in a single calendar year, surpassing the previous record of seven days set in 1976 and 2020. June 2026 was the hottest June on record for England, the Met Office stated, with a peak of 37.7C recorded in Lingwood, Norfolk, on 26 June. The prior June record high was 35.6C set in Southampton in 1976.

UK officials have warned that drought conditions are becoming increasingly likely in parts of the country, with authorities monitoring East Anglia, Devon and Cornwall. Dr Geoff Darch, head of strategic asset planning for Anglian Water, said the year has been exceptionally hot and dry and that the company is already into the third heatwave of the summer.

Several amber heat health alerts issued by the UK Health Security Agency remain in place until Sunday 12 July for every region except the North East, which has a yellow alert.