Second water company imposes hosepipe ban amid amber heat health alert

Water Restrictions Expand Amid Drought Concerns and Heatwave

A second water company has announced a hosepipe ban as concerns over drought conditions grow, with amber heat health alerts issued across parts of England. South East Water has confirmed that over a million customers in Kent and Sussex will face restrictions starting next week, following a similar ban introduced by Yorkshire Water today.

Currently, customers in Hampshire, Surrey, and Berkshire are not under any restrictions, but the situation is being closely monitored. The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) recently upgraded its heat alerts from yellow to amber, indicating that significant impacts on health and social care services are likely due to the high temperatures. These alerts cover London, the Midlands, the South East, South West, and East of England, and are in effect until 9am on Monday.

South East Water cited the driest spring in the region since 1893 as a key reason for implementing the ban, which will take effect on July 18. The company stated that despite urging customers to use water only for essential purposes, it was left with no choice but to introduce the temporary restriction to protect supplies and the environment.

Yorkshire Water, which serves 5.7 million customers, also implemented a hosepipe ban following the warmest June on record and the driest spring in 132 years. High temperatures are expected to continue over the weekend, prompting further action to conserve water.

South East Water serves approximately two million customers, though not all will be affected by the ban. Thames Water, the largest supplier with around 16 million customers across London and the Thames Valley, has warned that it may introduce restrictions if conditions do not improve significantly.

The Environment Agency reported that the south-east received just 63% of its average rainfall for June, highlighting the severity of the dry conditions. Experts suggest that rainfall must exceed average levels for an extended period to replenish water supplies and reduce drought risks.

The country is currently experiencing its third heatwave of the summer, with temperatures expected to reach 32°C in parts of central and southern England on Friday. Some regions, including the south-east, are at risk of drought. Temperatures could rise to 33°C on Saturday, although this would fall short of the 34.7°C recorded earlier in July.

Met Office meteorologist Craig Snell noted that the current heatwave is more widespread than previous ones. He predicted that high pressure will dominate the UK for the next three days, bringing hot and sunny conditions. While the eastern half of the UK might see slight cooling on Sunday, the rest of the country will remain very warm.

Yorkshire Water’s director of water, Dave Kaye, said the hosepipe ban could last until winter, emphasizing the need for immediate action to conserve water and protect the environment. Restrictions include prohibiting the use of hosepipes for watering gardens, cleaning cars, and filling padding pools.

Customers who violate the ban could face fines of up to £1,000, though the utility hopes such measures will not be necessary. Reservoir stocks have been declining since the end of January, according to Kaye.

In addition to the water restrictions, 80 firefighters were called to tackle a grass fire on Rainham Road in Rainham, Kent, on Thursday. The blaze destroyed about ten hectares of grass and shrubland, and the cause is under investigation.

Snell also highlighted that high UV levels and elevated grass pollen levels will accompany the heatwave, posing challenges for hayfever sufferers. The combination of extreme heat and dry conditions underscores the growing urgency for water conservation efforts across the UK.