Hosepipe bans in store as UK faces drought to rival 1976

HOSEPIPE bans could come into force across England next month, amid warnings of a drought as bad as that of 1976.

The National Drought Group, which includes representatives from the water industry, farmers and government, meets today to discuss the potential for a drought to be announced following record-breaking temperatures and historically low July rainfall.

That could include hosepipe bans and calls for households to cut down on non-essential use.

Most of England is already in prolonged dry weather status, the stage before a drought is declared. The last one was declared in 2018 and stretched into the following year, bringing with it curbs on water usage.

England has so far not seen as many very hot days in a row as in 2018 or 1976, one of the indicators of drought, but rainfall in July is so far less than a third of that seen in either year.

Southern Water has already made a drought permit request with the Environment Agency, which is likely to lead to a local hosepipe ban. It has asked its customers to reduce their usage as much as possible to protect water levels in the River Test in Hampshire.

The company, which last year missed its target to reduce leakage by 50 per cent, is already in an official “waterstressed” area, in which households are forced to install meters. High demand for water during the recent heatwave has put additional strain on resources across the country.

Households are expected to be asked to cut down on non-essential water consumption before the introduction of a hosepipe ban, a decision left to individual water companies.

Thames Water has said restrictions are likely to be needed unless the next few months bring increased rainfall.

A drought announcement could cover only the worst-affected areas such as the South East, which has seen the driest weather in recent weeks.

Tim Farron, the Liberal Democrat spokesman for the environment and rural affairs, said: “Britain is facing the worst drought since 1976 and ministers are nowhere to be found. The Government should haul in water companies and demand they fix all leaking pipes as soon as possible. There isn’t a second to waste.” The heatwave of 1976 brought a severe, level 3 drought, which allowed water companies to place standpipes in the street.

But significant improvements in infrastructure mean a drought would not have the same impact on water availability compared to 1976, when conditions led to the introduction of the Drought Act.

A spokesman for Water UK, an industry body, said: “Water companies continue to see extremely high demand and are urging everyone to carefully consider the amount of water they use.

“The ongoing dry, warm weather follows the driest winter and spring since the 1970s, leading to reduced river flows that need to be protected.

“Water companies have plans in place to manage water resources and safeguard the environment and are doing everything they can to minimise the need for any restrictions.”

‘The Government should haul in water companies and demand they fix all leaking pipes as soon as possible’