Thames Water has confirmed that multiple areas of London and southern England experienced water supply disruptions on the opening night of Britain's third heatwave of the year. The company acknowledged two separate incidents affecting the capital, with issues reported in north-west and east London, as well as parts of Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire.
Affected Areas and Postcodes
The east London postcodes impacted by the disruption include E1, E2, E3, E9, and E16. Additionally, the north-west London district of NW11 (North Circular) is experiencing low water pressure due to a burst water main. In Buckinghamshire, postcodes HP17, HP18, HP22, and MK18 are affected, while Oxfordshire postcodes OX3, OX5, OX9, OX25, OX26, OX27, and OX33 are also without normal water supply.
Heatwave Conditions
The difficulties arose as Londoners tried to sleep through 24°C overnight temperatures, ahead of an anticipated peak of 33°C on Thursday, July 8. The UK Health Security Agency has issued an amber health alert for heat, which remains active until Monday morning (6am, July 13).
Company Response
Thames Water issued a statement for east London customers: "We're sorry if your tap water isn't running at the moment. We're aware of an issue in the area that's affecting customers in the East London area. Our specialist team is enroute to the area to investigate the cause of disruption and restore the flow of your water supply."
For the NW11 area, the company stated: "Due to a burst water main in the area, your water supply is affected. Our teams are on site and working to isolate the leaking pipe. Once this has been carried out, we will begin work to carry out the repair. We will be on site through the night to ensure your supplies are back to normal as soon as possible."
Thames Water noted that it will provide further updates by 08:00 and encouraged vulnerable customers to sign up for the free Priority Services Register for additional support.
Financial Context
This disruption comes amid financial difficulties for Thames Water, which recently hiked bills by 31 per cent earlier this year. The company also faced two fines on Wednesday, adding to its challenges.
