Thames Water joins hosepipe ban as England and Wales approach drought status
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- Thames Water announced a hosepipe ban covering more than 10 million customers across London and the Thames Valley, effective Thursday, after the region saw just 40% of its usual spring rainfall.
- South East Water extended its existing ban to 2.4 million customers across Sussex, Surrey, Hampshire, and Berkshire, bringing the total affected population to roughly 23 million people across seven water companies.
- The National Drought Group declared eight areas of England in "prolonged dry weather" — the official stage before drought — with only 13% of rivers at normal levels and national reservoir storage 5% below the long-term average.
- Water demand ran 10% above normal in the Thames Valley and home counties and 7% above normal in London, a 100 million litre daily increase Thames Water said was equivalent to adding Manchester's entire consumption to the network.
- Farmers and wildfire responders reported cascading impacts: 53 wildfires have hit the country including on prime farmland and protected sites, and the National Farmers' Union warned of another "difficult and expensive harvest" after drought and flood hit in both 2024 and 2025.
- Met Office chief meteorologist Will Lang said July has been "particularly dry" with some locations recording no rainfall so far, and warned that any August rain is "unlikely to be widespread or substantial."
Why it matters: Seven water companies restricting hosepipe use means roughly 23 million customers — over a third of England's population — face immediate limits, and with the National Drought Group flagging eight regions in the pre-drought stage and reservoirs already 5% below average, a formal drought declaration appears imminent.
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