Five water suppliers have implemented hosepipe bans across parts of southern and central England as the UK endures an extended dry spell. The restrictions affect customers of Affinity Water, Anglian Water, South East Water, Southern Water, and Cambridge Water.
Record-Breaking Dry Period
Forecasters have confirmed that central and south-east England experienced the longest unbroken spell of no recorded rainfall this century. According to the Met Office's latest data, zero rainfall was recorded across weather stations in both regions for 14 consecutive days, from Thursday, July 2, to Wednesday, July 15.
The warm and sunny weather is expected to continue following three heatwaves. While temperatures in Greater Manchester are forecast to cool to around 21°C over the coming week, the dry spell persists.
Met Office Outlook
In response to inquiries about when the dry spell might end, a Met Office spokesperson stated: "The short answer is that for many areas, significant rainfall is not expected in the immediate future. Current Met Office forecasts suggest rain will remain in short supply across much of the UK over the coming days."
Explaining the cause of the dry and hot conditions, the Met Office added: "High pressure has been the dominant feature of the UK's weather pattern in recent weeks, bringing prolonged spells of sunshine, light winds and very limited rainfall. The settled pattern has allowed temperatures to climb well above average, with several parts of the UK experiencing their third heatwave of the year so far. While some locations have seen isolated showers or thunderstorms, these have been very localised, with many areas having remained completely dry for extended periods."
Water Restrictions in Place
Due to the prolonged dry spell, the following water suppliers have imposed hosepipe bans:
- Affinity Water
- Anglian Water
- South East Water
- Southern Water
- Cambridge Water
Affected Areas
The hosepipe bans cover the following regions:
- Bedfordshire
- Berkshire
- Buckinghamshire
- Essex
- Hertfordshire
- Surrey
- Parts of north and west London
- Norfolk
- Suffolk
- Cambridgeshire
- Lincolnshire
- Northamptonshire
- Rutland
- Parts of Essex
- Kent
- Hampshire
- Isle of Wight
Drought Status
The Environment Agency advises that no parts of the UK are currently in a drought, but several areas are classified under 'prolonged dry weather'. United Utilities, which supplies water to Greater Manchester and the North West, confirmed that reservoir levels remain above average for this time of year and has no plans to impose restrictions. A United Utilities spokesperson said: "There are no plans for any restrictions in the North West and our reservoir levels are above average for this time of year. Whatever the weather though, we always encourage our customers to use water wisely."
