Millions of households across England have been plunged into water restrictions as Britain’s relentless summer heatwave pushes supplies under growing pressure and raises fears of drought conditions.
Around five million customers in the East of England will be affected after Anglian Water announced a hosepipe ban, ordering residents to stop watering gardens, washing cars and filling swimming pools or paddling pools.
The move comes as officials warn parts of the country, including East Anglia, Devon and Cornwall, are being closely monitored for drought risks as water companies struggle to manage soaring demand during prolonged hot weather.
More restrictions are also coming into force elsewhere. Around one million customers of Southern Water across Hampshire and the Isle of Wight will face a hosepipe ban from Friday.
Southern Water chief executive Tim McMahon said the company would not introduce restrictions in Sussex for now, but urged customers to “use water wisely” as dry conditions continue.
The latest measures follow Cambridge Water announcing restrictions for its 350,000 customers — the first time the company has imposed a hosepipe ban in 30 years.
The firm warned local water resources were under “significant pressure”, with demand reaching record levels during the heatwave.
Earlier this month, South East Water introduced restrictions across parts of Kent, warning residents could face fines of up to £1,000 for breaching the ban.
But some residents have criticised the move, arguing water companies should address leaks before penalising households.
Bearsted resident Colin O’Connell told the BBC: “These companies have lots of leakages that don’t get fixed. This should be addressed before they start fining people for using hosepipes.”
South East Water said it had prepared extensively for summer demand but admitted the “sheer scale of this sustained heatwave” had forced it to introduce restrictions.
The growing number of bans highlights the strain placed on Britain’s water infrastructure after one of the driest periods in recent years, with experts warning that continued hot weather could trigger wider drought measures.
As temperatures remain elevated and rainfall forecasts remain uncertain, millions of households are now being asked to reduce everyday water use to protect supplies through the summer.
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