Thames Water announces hosepipe ban affecting 10 million

Thames Water introduces a temporary hosepipe ban affecting 10.1 million customers

The ban, which comes into effect from Thursday, means that households should not use hosepipes to clean cars, water gardens or fill paddling pools. Due to recent heatwaves, a lack of rainfall and higher than normal water demand, the water company have decided that a ban is ‘necessary’.

The ban will apply to over 10 million customers who are supplied with drinking water by Thames Water. However, wastewater-only customers won’t be affected by the ban.

The water company, the UK’s largest, provides water to customers across Greater London, the Thames Valley, Surrey, Wiltshire and across parts of Gloucestershire.

The areas affected by the hosepipe bans in the south and east of England 

Thames Water has said its customers were using 100 million more litres of water every day during the record breaking heatwaves. The company has said that “water has been used faster than it can be treated’.

Nevil Muncaster, the director of strategic water resources at Thames Water said ‘We would not be taking this step unless it was necessary to protect water supplies for everyone and the environment.’ He also stated that ‘We need to reduce non-essential outdoor demand to keep taps flowing’.

What you can and can’t do

Hosepipes, sprinklers and pressure washers should not be used to water gardens, fill paddling pools or clean vehicles, patios, driveways or any other outdoor areas.

However, plants and gardens can be watered with a watering can and cars could be washed with a bucket.

How long will it last?

The company have said that: ‘Our teams are working 24/7 to keep water moving, fix leaks and support customers, We will keep the situation under close review and lift restrictions as soon as it is safe to do so’.