Water companies impose new hosepipe bans in parts of southern England amid heatwave

Anglian Water gives update on hosepipe ban two days after being introduced  EDP24Affinity Water hosepipe ban after demand rises  BBCSouth West Water announces temporary restrictions for hosepipe use in Mid Devon and parts of East Devon  South West WaterHow are people adapting to the East of England hosepipe ban?  BBCHosepipe ban map: Where restrictions are in place as UK heatwave temperatures continue  The Independent

Hundreds of people head to the beach in Bournemouth, Dorset, to cool off in the sea as the heatwave continues (Picture: BNPS) Sweaty tube journeys and humid nights are set to continue this summer as 2026 became the first year to record temperatures of 35C on six separate days. Forecasters have said areas of England and Wales will continue to exceed 30C throughout the weekend and into next week. Saturday is expected to see highs of 32-34C in Wales and south-west England, the Met Office has said. Amber and yellow heat health alerts issued by the UK Health Security Agency will remain in place across large parts of England until Sunday. The Met has warned of possible thunderstorms from Monday in parts of the south, but overall another very dry week to come. Sign up for all of the latest stories Start your day informed with Metro's News Updates newsletter or get Breaking News alerts the moment it happens. Met Office deputy chief forecaster David Hayter, said: ‘Areas of central and southern England and Wales are expected to see several more consecutive days of temperatures above 30C. ‘While temperatures are expected to reach into the low to mid-30s through the weekend, the focus of the heat will gradually shift towards western parts of the UK. To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video Up Next Previous Page Next Page ‘This will also bring some slightly cooler and cloudier conditions to eastern coastal areas than of recent days. It will also turn windier across southern areas, bringing breezier conditions, especially along coasts and headlands. “The main exception to the largely dry and sunny conditions is northern Scotland, where a cold front is bringing rain, cloud and some heavy downpours on Friday. But conditions are expected to improve over the weekend. ‘There is a possible increase in thunderstorms from Monday in parts of the south, however most areas will remain dry, sunny and very warm into the coming week.’ The Met Office announced the new records after temperatures peaked at 35.2C at Coton in the Elms, Derbyshire, on Friday afternoon. Caption: BNPS.co.uk (01202 558833) Pic: MaxWillcock/BNPS Date: 09/07/2026 Weather input. Pictured: Golfers face dry conditions on the fairways at Barton-on-Sea Golf Club, Hampshire. A hosepipe ban has been introduced for about one million customers across Hampshire and the Isle of Wight for a second year in a row.Provider: Max Willcock/BNPSSource: BNPSCopyright: Max Willcock/BNPS (Credits: Max Willcock/BNPS) The former 35C on separate days record was held by 1976 and 2020 during which five days were recorded with temperatures over 35C. This year has also become the first year to see temperatures of 35C or higher in three calendar months – and broke the record for most temperatures of 34C or higher, with nine so far this summer. Water firms have also announced hosepipe bans for the east of England, Cambridge, Hampshire, the Isle of Wight and areas of Kent. Strain on water supplies has intensified after the successive heatwaves followed a record warm spring for England and Wales. It comes as the UK faces growing pressure on its water system as human-driven climate change disrupts rainfall patterns and drives more extreme weather events. Golfers face dry conditions on the fairways at Barton-on-Sea Golf Club, Hampshire (Picture: Max Willcock/BNPS) This has been compounded by population increases as well as years of under-investment in infrastructure putting further strain on the system, including no new reservoirs being built in 30 years and leaking pipes. Hosepipe restrictions came into force on Friday for about one million Southern Water customers across Hampshire and the Isle of Wight. On Friday morning, Anglian Water also announced a hosepipe ban for its more than five million customers in the east of England. The ban will come into force from 1am on Saturday but the utility has asked that people ‘live within the spirit of these restrictions immediately’. In a notice on Thursday afternoon, Cambridge Water announced a temporary hosepipe ban for its 350,000 customers, which came into effect immediately but enforcement actions will not start until 1am on July 17. This marks the first time in three decades it has introduced the restriction, with the company saying teams are working around the clock to maintain supplies. South East Water became the first to introduce a ban on July 3 for areas of Kent, including those in Ashford, Canterbury, Faversham, Maidstone, Sevenoaks, Snodland, Tenterden and Tunbridge Wells. Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@metro.co.uk. For more stories like this, check our news page. Comment now Comments Add Metro as a Preferred Source on Google Add as preferred source

Anglian Water hosepipe ban for UK's driest region  BBCHosepipe ban for millions more people as latest heatwave increases risk of drought conditions  Sky NewsHosepipe ban confirmed for Norfolk for first time in 14 years  EDP24Cambridge Water imposes hosepipe ban amid concern over water supplies  Cambridge IndependentFirst hosepipe ban since 2018 announced as heatwave continues  East Anglian Daily Times

Southern Water has issued a hosepipe pan from 12.01am on July 10 in Hampshire and on the Isle of Wight

Brits to bask in 34C highs as eight-day heat alert kicks in and thousands hit with fresh hosepipe ban  The SunKent residents will not report South East Water hosepipe ban breaches  BBCHosepipe ban for Hampshire and Isle of Wight Southern Water customers  BBCNew hosepipe ban imposed as heatwave returns  The TelegraphHosepipe ban map: Where restrictions are in place ahead of another UK heatwave this weekend  The Independent

Hosepipe ban map: Where restrictions are in place ahead of another UK heatwave this weekend  The IndependentKent residents will not report South East Water hosepipe ban breaches  BBCHosepipe ban for Hampshire and Isle of Wight Southern Water customers  BBCNew hosepipe ban imposed as heatwave returns  The TelegraphSouthern Water to introduce hosepipe ban in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight  ITVX