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Thames Water Enforces Hosepipe Bans Amid Record Drought

7/22/2026

29 5 Full Breakdown

Summary

Story summary

Thames Water has imposed hosepipe bans as England receives only 3% of its usual rainfall.
Eastern England has experienced the longest rain-free spell in 30 years.
Farmers in East Anglia have stopped abstracting water from dry rivers.
NFU deputy president Paul Tompkins warned the drought could affect harvests and asked the Environment Agency to relax abstraction rules.
Oliver Harmar of Natural England said low water levels threaten Atlantic salmon.

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Story summary

Thames Water has imposed hosepipe bans as England receives only 3% of its usual rainfall.
Eastern England has experienced the longest rain-free spell in 30 years.
Farmers in East Anglia have stopped abstracting water from dry rivers.
NFU deputy president Paul Tompkins warned the drought could affect harvests and asked the Environment Agency to relax abstraction rules.
Oliver Harmar of Natural England said low water levels threaten Atlantic salmon.