Severn Trent Water is celebrating a remarkable three-decade streak without implementing a hosepipe ban, a record it attributes to a combination of customer diligence, proactive leakage management, and significant investment in its pipe network. This achievement comes despite 2026 being described by the Met Office as an "extraordinary year" for heat, with England experiencing its warmest June on record and more days above 30C than in the whole of 1976.
The extreme temperatures have led to unprecedented demand for water across the Midlands and beyond. Severn Trent, which supplies over eight million people, reported its highest-ever demand on 11 July, with customers consuming almost 2.4 billion litres – 400 million litres more than usual. Howard Perry, Severn Trent's water networks operations lead, highlighted the pressure this places on the network, largely due to increased outdoor activities like garden watering and filling paddling pools.
While Severn Trent has managed to avoid restrictions, many other water companies have not been so fortunate. Anglian Water, for instance, introduced a hosepipe ban from 11 July due to what it described as "huge additional demand." Affinity Water, Cambridge Water, South East Water, and Southern Water have also implemented similar measures this summer, underscoring the severity of the current conditions across the UK.
The company is urging customers to continue their efforts in conserving water to help maintain its long-standing record. Suggestions include using watering cans instead of sprinklers, allowing lawns to recover naturally, reusing paddling pool water for plants, and ensuring washing machines and dishwashers are run with full loads. These simple actions are seen as crucial in mitigating the strain on supplies during prolonged periods of high demand.
As of 13 July, Severn Trent's overall reservoir capacity stood at approximately 77.4%, which Mr Perry described as "OK for the time of year." However, he cautioned that sustained high consumption could deplete these reserves faster than desired. Tittesworth Reservoir in Staffordshire, one of the company's smaller sites, was at around 55% capacity, serving as an early indicator of the need for continued water-wise behaviour.