A hosepipe ban has been put in place affecting approximately 350,000 residents in the UK amid the country’s third heatwave of the year. Cambridge Water announced the ban, the first in the area in three decades, effective immediately and enforceable from 1am BST on July 17. The company, serving customers in Cambridgeshire and parts of Bedfordshire, cited the extreme heat, a 30% surge in water consumption, and low rainfall as reasons for the restriction.

Due to the soaring demand for water surpassing their capacity to supply during prolonged hot weather, Cambridge Water emphasized the need for cooperation from the public. Elena Karpathakis, the managing director, highlighted the unprecedented water usage levels and the necessity of the ban, which marks the first such action since the UK drought in 1995.

Cambridgeshire has been experiencing below-average rainfall since March, with April being notably dry. The recent heatwave pushed temperatures to 35.5C in Wisley, Surrey, setting a new record for the number of days exceeding 34C in a calendar year. Cambridge Water has resorted to tapping into underground reserves earlier than usual due to the prolonged dry spell, emphasizing the ban’s importance in safeguarding local water sources and chalk streams.

Customers of Cambridge Water are required to refrain from using hosepipes for non-essential purposes such as watering gardens, filling pools, and washing cars. South East Water and Southern Water have also implemented hosepipe bans in certain regions to manage water resources amidst the challenging weather conditions.