Millions of people in southeast England may face hosepipe bans after the region experienced its driest July since 1911. Southern Water has already imposed a ban affecting nearly 1 million customers in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight, effective from 5 August. Thames Water, serving 15 million people in London and Oxfordshire, has warned it may follow suit if dry conditions persist.
The bans prohibit using hosepipes for watering gardens, filling paddling pools, or washing cars. Thames Water has urged customers to take shorter showers and turn off taps while brushing teeth. A spokesperson said demand has already outstripped supply at times this summer, and reservoir levels continue to drop.
Government sources indicate this could be the first of several drought measures across the UK, as river flows in the Test and Itchen are about 25% lower than normal. The Met Office expects below-average rainfall for the rest of summer, with August likely to be dry in the south and southeast.
Farmers face potential restrictions on watering crops during the crucial August-September period, threatening root vegetables like potatoes. The government held an emergency drought meeting with farmers and water companies earlier this week.
Dr Alison Hoyle of Southern Water said the decision was not taken lightly, noting record temperatures and low river flows. Mark McCarthy of the Met Office warned that hotter, drier summers could become more common due to climate change. The Environment Agency urged other water companies to implement precautionary bans and provided a hotline for reporting environmental incidents.
