Thames Water Imposes Hosepipe Ban on 10.1 Million as Demand Runs 10% Above Normal
Updated
Updated · bbc.co.uk · Jul 21
Thames Water Imposes Hosepipe Ban on 10.1 Million as Demand Runs 10% Above Normal
3 articles · Updated · bbc.co.uk · Jul 21
Summary
From Thursday, Thames Water will bar more than 10 million customers from using hosepipes for gardens, car washing, and filling paddling or swimming pools.
The company said an exceptionally warm, dry spring and three heatwaves left its region with just 40% of average rainfall, while peak demand outpaced how fast water could be treated and moved.
Usage is running 10% above normal in the Thames Valley and Home Counties and 7% above normal in London, adding about 100 million litres a day.
Buckets and watering cans remain allowed, and exemptions cover health and safety needs and some customers with severe mobility problems.
The restrictions hit as Thames Water, burdened with about £20 billion of debt, faces wider pressure after the government rejected a rescue proposal.