Sixth UK Heatwave Triggers New Water Bans for Businesses and Farmers

A record-breaking summer has produced a sixth heatwave, with temperatures forecast to reach 35 °C. The Environment Agency (EA) warns that seven English regions and all of Wales are already in drought, while six more are in “prolonged dry weather” and could enter drought within a week. Reservoir storage across England has fallen to 69 % of capacity, 12 % below the long-term average, with five reservoirs classified as exceptionally low.

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South West Water announced the latest restrictions for customers in Devon, Cornwall, parts of Dorset and Somerset, as well as the Isles of Scilly. Southern Water has applied to the Government for a Non-Essential Use Ban covering Hampshire and the Isle of Wight, which would prohibit businesses from washing cars, windows or filling private swimming pools with hosepipes or mechanical devices. The ban would not affect publicly accessible pools but would apply to membership-only facilities such as gym pools. The company describes the application as a “precautionary measure” and notes it would be the first government-authorised ban of this type since 2006.

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Farmers with water-abstraction licences are facing over 1,500 existing limits, with additional restrictions introduced across East Anglia. Suffolk farmer Andrew Blenkiron reported a 70 % reduction in barley yields and has invested £3 million in three on-farm reservoirs; two are now nearly empty and the third is at 15 % of its capacity. He estimates that irrigation water use has risen by roughly 80 % compared with the previous year.

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Low river levels have led to mass fish kills, including thousands of dead fish on the River Wensum in Norfolk. The EA has recorded 134 drought-related environmental incidents this year, encompassing fish kills and toxic algal blooms. Southern Water has sought a drought order to increase abstraction from the River Test, raising concerns about further stress on wildlife.

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Yellow heat-health warnings remain in place across most of England, highlighting risks to public health and healthcare services. The National Drought Group—comprising ministers, regulators, the Met Office, water companies and the National Farmers Union—is scheduled to reconvene on 18 August to assess the situation and coordinate further actions.

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