A hosepipe ban has been announced for parts of England, set to begin at 12:01 a.m. on July 10 in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight, as the Met Office forecasts a heatwave with temperatures reaching up to 34°C next week.
UKHSA Issues Yellow Heat Health Alerts
The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has issued week-long yellow heat health alerts covering the East Midlands, East of England, South East, South West (including London), and West Midlands. The alerts are in effect from midday on Saturday, July 8, until 8 p.m. on July 11. The agency warned that high temperatures could increase health risks for vulnerable individuals and lead to greater use of healthcare services. It also highlighted potential water-related incidents, including risks from cold water shock and drowning.
Met Office Temperature Forecast
Met Office meteorologist Becky Mitchell stated: “We have got a heatwave on the way across parts of southern England and Wales. Temperatures are already quite high across the South East today, we could get 28°C in London. Elsewhere, it’s not as hot as we have got temperatures closer to average but they will climb as we go into next week.” Temperatures are expected to rise to 29°C on Sunday, approach the low 30s early next week, and peak at 34°C on Thursday or Friday in the South East. Mitchell noted that while this heatwave will be prolonged, lasting around a week, it will not be as hot and humid as June’s record-breaking heatwave.
Southern Water Cites Low River Levels
Southern Water explained the ban on its website, stating: “The warmest spring on record, followed by a record-breaking heatwave, has left river levels 25% lower than expected for this time of year.” The River Test has lost a third of its water within the last month, “putting pressure on our ability to treat and supply your water.” The company added: “To protect local rivers, including the River Test and Itchen that supply most of your water, and to keep taps flowing, we need to introduce restrictions.”
Exemptions and Restrictions
Customers on Southern Water’s priority services register with medical or mobility needs, including blue badge holders and those on the WaterSure tariff, are exempt from the ban. The hosepipe ban prohibits non-essential activities such as watering gardens (including sprinkler systems), filling paddling pools, hot tubs, swimming pools, ponds, or fountains, and washing cars, patios, or windows. Southern Water stated the ban will be lifted “as soon as we can,” which depends on sufficient water levels in reservoirs, rivers, and underground aquifers.
Context of Recent Heatwave
This alert follows a severe heatwave last week, during which the Met Office issued a rare red warning for extreme heat. The UK set a provisional June temperature record of 37.7°C in Lingwood, Norfolk, surpassing the previous June record of 35.6°C from 1976 by more than 2°C—a significant margin compared to typical record breaks.
