Overview
- Thames Water brought a temporary hosepipe ban into force at 00:01 BST on Thursday, July 23, affecting about 10.1 million customers across London, the Thames Valley and the Home Counties.
- About 23 million people are now under legally enforceable temporary use bans after seven major suppliers, including Affinity, Anglian, Southern and South East Water, introduced restrictions to curb non‑essential outdoor use.
- Natural Resources Wales declared drought for North Wales and the Upper Severn on July 23 after record low rainfall and falling river and groundwater levels produced visible harms such as dried ponds, fish rescues and increased wildfires.
- Companies report demand running roughly 10% above normal in parts of the Thames region and 7% higher in London, with customers using an extra 100 million litres a day, prompting mass leak repairs, tankers and transfers to protect supplies.
- Reservoir storage is mixed, regulators say longer hot spells could force further measures including permit changes or local rationing, and officials are pressing for faster leak reductions and new storage projects while enforcing exemptions for vulnerable customers and animal welfare.