South East Water expands hosepipe ban to 2.4 million amid record heat

More than 2 million people in southern England will face temporary hosepipe restrictions as South East Water extends its ban to Sussex, Surrey, Hampshire and Berkshire. Thames Water confirmed there is currently no ban in Oxfordshire but is monitoring river, reservoir and groundwater levels. The measures come after a prolonged heatwave produced a 14‑day spell of zero rainfall and pushed England’s reservoir storage to about 79% of capacity, below the seasonal average. Water companies are urging households to stop using hoses for gardens, cars and pools to protect supplies.