No hosepipe ban but Anglian Water urges people to save water
As the heatwave continues with record temperatures, Anglian Water is urging customers to use less water wherever they can, but says there will be no hosepipe ban.
Demand for water is higher than usual during hot weather with increased usage putting pressure on the company’s water network. This can lead to issues such as bursts and low pressure weith dry ground conditions also increasing the likelihood of burst water mains.
This week, as temperatures have reached the high 30s, data from Anglian Water showed that customers’ demand for water was much higher than usual. Yesterday (June 24), the company put a record 1600 million litres of water into the supply – a third higher than its typical distribution, 1200 million litres a day. This increase is roughly equivalent to supplying an extra county the size of Lincolnshire.
Ian Rule, Director of Water Services for Anglian Water, said: "We have no plans to introduce a hosepipe ban this year. But during this current heatwave, we're having to produce more water than ever before to keep everyone on supply, so we'd urge customers to avoid using hosepipes and use less water wherever they can.
"We recognise that water plays an important part in keeping cool and staying hydrated during the heat, but anywhere you can cut back - for instance, by reusing water from paddling pools to water your garden, taking shorter showers or putting off non-essential tasks like washing the car - will make a significant difference over the coming days.
"Our customers are already some of the UK's most water efficient, so we'd like to thank them for their continued support as we respond to this record-breaking hot weather.”
Last year, the East of England experienced the driest spring and summer since 1976, with the warmest summer on record in the UK.
While Anglian Water’s resources are still secure, the last few months of hot and dry weather – following on from record-breaking dry and warm weather in 2025 – has meant that some sources in the region are experiencing below normal levels.
Over the summer, the company’s drought experts are monitoring these areas closely, while engineers continue to work around the clock to fix pipes, upgrade systems and secure more water for the future.