Millions of Thames Water customers will be banned from using hosepipes from Thursday, as the utility warns of "exceptional dry conditions" and demand 10% above normal in parts of the South East.
The restriction, officially known as a temporary use ban (TUB), takes effect at 00.01am on Thursday, though Thames Water is urging households to comply immediately. Under the ban, customers must not use hosepipes for non-essential activities such as watering gardens, cleaning cars, filling paddling pools, or topping up hot tubs.
“Thames Water imposes hosepipe ban for millions from Thursday amid record dry spring and high demand.”
Thames Water reported usage 10 per cent above normal in the Thames Valley and Home Counties, and 7 per cent higher in London. This coincides with ongoing hot temperatures, following three unprecedented heatwaves in three months and the driest spring on record for England and Wales.
Nevil Muncaster, director of strategic water resources at Thames Water, said: "We would not be taking this step unless it was necessary to protect water supplies for everyone and the environment."
"While there is enough water for essential use, we need to reduce non-essential outdoor demand to keep taps flowing," he added. "Many customers have already reduced their water use and that support has made a difference. Thank you to everyone who has already changed their daily habits."
Muncaster said Thames Water teams are working around the clock to keep water moving, fix leaks and support customers. "We will keep the situation under close review and lift restrictions as soon as it is safe to do so," he added.
The ban applies to customers that Thames Water supplies with drinking water, but does not apply to waste-only customers or those supplied by another water company.
Separately, more than two million people will face a hosepipe ban after South East Water said it was extending water restrictions, according to Sky News.
The news comes as Thames Water's lenders have revealed they are looking at offering a "golden share" to the Government as part of a revised rescue deal to stave off nationalisation of the stricken supplier. The consortium of lenders bidding for the UK's biggest water firm, which has around 16 million customers across London and the South East, said it remains in talks with regulators over a possible deal, with "material improvements" being considered on its previous £10 billion proposal to appease government concerns.
It comes amid reports Andy Burnham could temporarily nationalise the debt-laden company, having already signalled he wants to bring in a 10-year plan to renationalise the water industry, saying reform is needed to put the public interest first.
The ban leaves millions of households facing the prospect of dry gardens and unwashed cars, with the timing of any lifting of restrictions uncertain.