A new heatwave forecast for the East of England has prompted Anglian Water to issue a stark warning: it cannot rule out introducing a hosepipe ban this summer. Just months after assuring customers that no such measures were planned, the utility company is now on high alert as temperatures are set to soar once again.
Anglian Water's director of water services, Ian Rule, acknowledges the rapidly evolving situation, stating "Although we're not putting hosepipe bans in place at the moment, the situation is changing very quickly and we can't completely rule them out for this summer." The region has already endured unprecedented temperatures, with a new UK record for June set in Norfolk at 37.7C.
The company highlights that recurring heatwaves are becoming more common due to climate change, exacerbated by population growth, which places immense strain on water resources. Rule stresses the need for sustained behavioural changes to ensure adequate supplies for current and future generations.
Anglian Water is investing heavily in infrastructure projects, including two new reservoirs, a major pipeline, and desalination facilities, to bolster the reliability of its supplies across the region. However, in the short term, customers are being urged to adopt water-saving practices. This includes opting for watering cans over hoses, refraining from washing cars or patios, reusing paddling pool water, embracing brown lawns, and collecting wastewater for garden use.