Thames Water joins hosepipe ban as England and Wales approach drought status

Thames Water’s hosepipe ban will cover more than 10 million customers across London and the Thames valley. Photograph: Yui Mok/PA View image in fullscreen Thames Water’s hosepipe ban will cover more than 10 million customers across London and the Thames valley. Photograph: Yui Mok/PA Thames Water joins hosepipe ban as England and Wales approach drought status About 23 million people across country affected by water-saving measures with ‘prolonged dry weather’ in eight areas How can I water my garden in a hosepipe ban and will there be drought this summer? Thames Water investors offer ‘golden share’ in bid to head off nationalisation Twenty three million people will be banned from using hosepipes by this weekend, as England and Wales moves closer to drought status. On Tuesday Thames Water became the latest water company to announce a hosepipe ban , covering the more than 10 million customers it supplies water to across London and the Thames valley. It came after South East Water on Monday extended its ban – already covering Kent – to cover 2.4 million customers in Sussex, Surrey, Hampshire and Berkshire. Five other water companies have already imposed bans. Months of dry, hot weather, including an unprecedented three heatwaves and the driest spring on record for England and Wales, have left water supplies severely depleted, particularly in the south and south-east. Despite an exceptionally wet winter, drought now seems inevitable. On Tuesday the National Drought Group (NDG), an official body that brings government together with water companies, weather forecasters, farmers and conservationists, said eight areas in England were in “prolonged dry weather” – the stage before drought. Thames Water said its region had just 40% of the usual rainfall during spring, while demand for water was 10% higher than normal in the Thames valley and home counties, and 7% higher in London. The 100m litre-a-day (22m gallons-a-day) increase in demand was equivalent to adding the entire city of Manchester to the network, the company said. “We would not be taking this step unless it was necessary to protect water supplies for everyone and the environment,” said Nevil Muncaster, its director of strategic resources. Thames Water’s ban officially begins on Thursday, but the company is asking customers to cut their use straight away. South East Water also asked customers to observe restrictions, although the extension to its ban does not come into force until Saturday. Customers of Affinity Water, Anglian Water, Cambridge Water, Southern Water and South West Water are already banned from using hoses. Only 13% of rivers were classed as at normal levels for the time of the year, while national reservoir storage was at 78.8%, about 5% lower than the long-term average. View image in fullscreen A combine harvester cuts through a wheat field at Plastow Green, Hampshire. Crops have ripened early, said Paul Tompkins of the National Farmers’ Union. Photograph: David Hartley/Shutters