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Wessex Water imposes first hosepipe ban in 50 years as heatwave persists

· Environment GBR
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Wessex Water has announced its first hosepipe ban in 50 years, taking effect at one minute past midnight on Tuesday, 18 August, after drought restrictions had already spread across much of England. The utility, which serves around 1.4 million customers across Bath and parts of Somerset, Dorset and Wiltshire, said regional demand has consistently exceeded 400 million litres per day — 30 per cent above the seasonal average. Peak consumption hit 449 million litres on 11 July, a company record.

The restriction pushes the total number of people under hosepipe bans in England to more than 27 million, joining Thames Water, which imposed its ban on 23 July, and South West Water, which followed on 10 August. Wessex Water said it has invested more than £16 million in supply assets over the past three months.

Temperatures reached a year-high of 38.1C at Kew Gardens in London on Thursday, and a yellow heat health alert for the South East, South West and London has been extended until 9am Tuesday.

Story development

  1. Wessex Water imposes first hosepipe ban in 50 years as rain fails to ease drought across northern Europe
  2. Wessex Water imposes first hosepipe ban in 50 years as heatwave persists
  3. UK braces for rain and cooler temperatures after record heatwave and wildfires
  4. Stourbridge wildfire destroys 19 homes as 11 major incidents declared across UK
  5. UK sends emergency wildfire warning to millions and bans disposable barbecues
  6. Wildfires force airport closure and major incidents as UK blazes match annual record
  7. UK records hottest day of 2026 as 38.1C in London caps record-breaking heatwave
  8. UK prime minister convenes Cobra as drought grips 75% of England and heatwave intensifies
  9. UK upgrades heat alerts to amber as drought expands to 71% of England
  10. UK braces for fifth heatwave as drought deepens and death toll mounts

Covered by 7 outlets across 3 countries

Sources

The reporting this story is built on

bbc.co.uk GBR First Wessex Water hosepipe ban since 1976 announcedstandard.co.uk GBR Wessex Water announces hosepipe ban for first time in 50 yearsindependent.co.uk GBR Wessex Water announces first hosepipe ban in 50 years
Additional coverage

Others reporting the same event

metro.co.uk GBR It finally rained – but another 1,400,000 people now under hosepipe baninews.co.uk GBR The hosepipe ban hypocrisy that will make you furiousantaranews.com IDN Inggris siapkan pembatasan penggunaan air di saat kekeringan

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