Water firm warns of possible hosepipe ban

Thames Water said reserves were running low

A water company has warned it will announce a hosepipe ban unless the current water shortage "changes significantly".

Thames Water said a lack of rain and increasing demand had stretched supplies.

It urged customers to use water sparingly to help avoid the need for restrictions.

The Environment Agency said it had declared a state of Prolonged Dry Weather in large parts of Oxfordshire, Berkshire and Surrey.

In a post on X, the agency said the Thames area had experienced half of its expected rainfall in the last three months.

Thames Water said demand in the Swindon and Oxfordshire areas peaked on 30 June at a level last seen during the 2022 drought.

It said: "The ongoing dry weather and increased customer demand is impacting our water supplies across the Thames Valley.

"Unless the situation changes significantly, we will need to put usage restrictions, including a hosepipe ban, in place to ensure taps keep running for customers' essential use."

The firm appealed to customers to take shorter showers, turn off taps and let lawns go dry to conserve supplies.

England has experienced the driest March, April and May since 1893, the government previously said.

Droughts have been declared in north-west England and Yorkshire, while several areas have Prolonged Dry Weather status.