United Utilities has warned that the recent hot weather has driven 'record demand' for water across north west England, but says there are currently no plans to impose water restrictions.
The company, which supplies water to Greater Manchester and the north west, encouraged people to 'use water wisely' as hot conditions continue across the UK. Parts of England have entered drought conditions, including the whole of Wales, as the prolonged dry spell persists.
The UK has endured its fourth heatwave of the summer, with temperatures topping 35°C this week. Health authorities warned that England is on track this year for the highest number of deaths caused by such hot spells since current records began.
Reservoir levels stable despite record demand
A United Utilities spokesperson said: 'There are no plans for any restrictions in the North West. And our reservoir levels are where we would expect them to be for this time of year, thanks to a wetter-than-average start to 2026.'
However, the spokesperson added: 'The recent hot weather has driven record demand. At the peak of the heatwave, we supplied more than 2 billion litres of water a day across the North West – around 200 million litres more than usual, the equivalent of adding a city the size of Liverpool to our daily demand. That demand comes not only from households, but also from businesses, farmers and the emergency services responding to moorland fires.'
Wildfires and water restrictions elsewhere
The hot and dry weather has created ideal conditions for wildfires, including a blaze at Dovestone Reservoir in Saddleworth which has been burning for more than two weeks.
Millions of people across the UK are facing water restrictions such as hosepipe bans to conserve water. United Utilities said in a message: 'While we're in a strong position, we always encourage customers to use water wisely, as a few small changes can make a big difference in helping to ensure there's enough water for everyone throughout the summer.'
Met Office forecast: rain unlikely to offset shortfall
The Met Office has warned that although some rain is forecast, it is not likely to balance out the lack of wet weather experienced this summer.
Mark Sidaway, Deputy Chief Forecaster at the Met Office, said: 'The forecast is showing potential for more rain than much of the UK has experienced over the last few weeks. However, it looks as though amounts of rain for many will be fairly modest, and won't balance out the shortfall that we have recorded this summer. It’s still possible that some areas of the south will miss out and see little or no rainfall.'
