Latest news with #SouthEastWater
ITV News
2 days ago
- Climate
- ITV News
Thames Water hosepipe ban comes into force for more than 1m customers
A hosepipe ban has come into force for more than one million people across Oxfordshire, Berkshire, Wiltshire and Gloucestershire. Thames Water has asked customers not to use hosepipes for things such as cleaning cars, watering plants, filling pools or cleaning windows. The Temporary Usage Ban (TUB) is being imposed to preserve water after one of the driest Springs on record. The company says only certain postcodes are affected due to low supplies of water at Farmoor Reservoir and local rivers. The ban affects customers in the following postcodes: The water company is asking people not to get in touch about neighbours using hosepipes, and says it will contact customers who repeatedly don't follow the rules. Those breaking the rules could face a fine of up to £1,000. A hosepipe ban is already in place for thousands of Southern Water and South East Water customers. Thames Water has come under heavy criticism in recent years following burst pipes, leaks and increased water bills. The compant says it is replacing 500km of water mains over the next five years to reduce leakage.
Daily Mirror
5 days ago
- Climate
- Daily Mirror
UK households warned over common hosepipe mistake that costs you money
Before you toss your hosepipe in the shed in the midst of widespread bans across the UK, make sure you follow these expert storage tips - or risk having to spend more money As hosepipe bans come into force across much of the UK, Brits are being warned to be careful about how they store them away – or risk losing money. Yorkshire became the first UK region on July 11 to initiate this year's wave of hosepipe bans after a dry spring. Meanwhile, there are bans coming in for Kent and Sussex in South East England and Swindon, Gloucestershire, Oxfordshire, Berkshire and Wiltshire in the coming days. A hosepipe ban by South East Water begins on July 18 and Thames Water's hose restrictions starts on July 22, which will impact millions of Brits. READ MORE: Never plant 'silent killer' flower in garden despite its beautiful colours However, before you stow your hosepipe away, an expert has urged Brits to be cautious. Otherwise, you can end up wasting water and incurring a charge. Storing your hosepipe can lead to sunlight damage, knots and kinks and general wear and tear. Your hosepipe may even need to be replaced, which can cost an average of £50. Max Ledsham, an expert from Kingfisher Direct, has provided the key steps for correctly storing a hosepipe to prevent damage. Even better, they're incredible simple to follow. He urges gardeners to fully drain the water before storing away, as moisture can cause algae growth and damage the interior of the pipe. You can always use the excess water on plants and grass. You should also store it out of the sunlight, as prolonged sunlight and heat damage can cause cracks and brittleness to appear in your hosepipe. Instead, Max says you should store your hosepipe inside in a cool, dry location, like a garden shed or garage. Equally, you should your hosepipe off the floor and on a wall mounted hanger instead. Max recommends that this can prevent exposure to dirt, as well as keeping pests from crawling inside. Of course, you should also be careful to wrap your hosepipe neatly around the hanger. This prevents the formation of knots and kinks, which can weaken parts of the hosepipe over time and cause breakage. Max advises that storing your hosepipe away during the ban is crucial as it will stop you from using your hosepipe out of habit. After all, if it's out of sight it's out of mind. He says: 'Failing to adhere to the hosepipe ban regulations can result in legal penalties and a £1000 fine issued by the court. In order to correctly follow the ban you must avoid using a hosepipe to water your garden, including plants, vegetables and grass.' He continues: 'In addition, you can't use a hosepipe to clean private vehicles or any outdoor surfaces like patios, walls or windows. Finally, you must not use a hosepipe to fill a paddling pool, cold plunge pool, hot tub or pond'.
Daily Mail
5 days ago
- Climate
- Daily Mail
Thunderstorms set to batter Britain: Met Office issues amber alert for 'significant' flooding and up to FOUR inches of rain in London and South East
Southern England will be battered by intense thunderstorms and torrential rain which could cause 'significant' flooding and a danger to life, forecasters warned today. A seven-hour amber thunderstorm warning has been issued for tomorrow from 4am to 11am amid fears up to 4in (100mm) of rain could fall in a few hours - equivalent to more than a month's worth of rain. The alert from the Met Office covers millions of people across major towns and cities including London, Brighton, Portsmouth, Chelmsford, St Albans and Cambridge. It is the first time an amber warning has been issued over London in 18 months since Storm Henk struck England and Wales with very strong winds in January 2024. Forecasters warned of sudden flooding in roads and homes with some more remote communities at risk of being cut off, with delays to trains likely. Power cuts are feared and buildings could be damaged by floods, lightning strikes, hail and strong winds. It comes as the second major hosepipe ban came into force today, with restrictions activated by South East Water for 1.4million people across Kent and Sussex in Ashford, Canterbury, Eastbourne, Maidstone, Haywards Heath and Tunbridge Wells. Yorkshire Water became the first major water firm to bring in a ban last Friday - and Southern Water restrictions will start in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight from Monday. Then from Tuesday, Thames Water will bring in a ban for customers in Oxfordshire, Gloucestershire, most of Wiltshire and some parts of Berkshire - but not London. Meteorologists fear that the heavy rain will not make a major difference to the ground because surfaces are extremely dry and will therefore not absorb much water. The Met Office has now issued six weather warnings for the next few days: Yellow - North East England, thunderstorms, today, from 12pm until 8pm Yellow - South East England, thunderstorms, today, from 9pm until 11.59pm Yellow - Most of England, thunderstorms, tomorrow, from 0am until 9pm Amber - South East England, thunderstorms, tomorrow, from 4am until 11am Yellow - Eastern Scotland, rain, tomorrow, from 4pm until 12pm Sunday Yellow - South West England, rain, Sunday, from 12pm until 3am Monday Conditions will feel very humid today before the storms begin, with temperatures topping 30C (86F) in parts of central and southern England this afternoon. The rain will begin hitting areas of North East England such as Durham and North Yorkshire which could see up to 25mm (1in) of rain in less than an hour. Up to 60mm (2.4in) of rain could accumulate over the North York Moors and East Yorkshire where storms align over similar areas. Then into this evening, a separate area of thunderstorms will push northwards into the South East of England from France. A yellow severe weather warning is in place from 9pm tonight until midnight for the South East. Another warning covering most of England apart from the South West then begins at midnight tonight until 9pm tomorrow. That warning area also covers the Greater Manchester region, where Oasis are playing their next two comeback gigs at Heaton Park tomorrow and on Saturday. There will be an amber warning from 4am tomorrow morning until 11am covering south-eastern parts of England. The Met Office said the warning area 'includes London which is particularly susceptible to surface water issues during thunderstorms due to the high proportion of impermeable surfaces'. Forecasters said that within this area, 20 to 40mm of rain could fall in an hour, with up to 70mm to 100mm accumulating in just a few hours, adding: 'If these higher totals fall over urban areas, there could be notable impacts.' A yellow warning for rain has also been issued for parts of Scotland from 4pm tomorrow until 12pm on Sunday. Met Office chief meteorologist Andy Page said: 'Intense rainfall will impact parts of the UK as thunderstorms move in from France. 'A range of severe weather warnings have been issued, including an Amber warning covering southeast England and London. The intense rainfall could lead to surface water flooding as well as frequent lightning and hail too. 'The situation is evolving, and warnings may be changed or added. This weekend is expected to be busy on the roads as more schools in England and Wales break up for the summer holidays, so it's important people keep up-to-date with the very latest forecast. 'There will be spells of more pleasant weather in parts of the UK through the weekend, with some sunny spells in between systems as they move through.' On Sunday, widespread showers and thunderstorms are expected to continue, moving northwards throughout the day. But parts of the UK will also experience warm weather and brighter, drier spells today and throughout the weekend, particularly in East and South East England. Alex Burkill, a meteorologist at the Met Office, warned that the high temperatures could become 'quite uncomfortable' in some parts of the country. He said: 'In the south and east, there is further chance of staying dry and some decent sunshine on offer. 'So there's a lot of heat around, high humidity as well, quite uncomfortable for some of us. 'As we go into the weekend, with the heat and the humidity, there's a fairly strong chance that we are going to see some heavy, thundery rain, feeding up from the south. 'That is likely to become pretty widespread across much of the country as we go through Saturday and into Sunday.' Next week is expected to continue to have unsettled weather, with a mixture of showers and thunderstorms and sunshine. Temperatures will be warm depending on the sunshine and conditions may settle by mid-week with showers still in the east. South East Water announced its hosepipe ban on July 11 as the ongoing dry weather and hot temperatures across England have resulted in record-breaking water demand. The firm said the ban means customers in Kent and Sussex will not be able to use hosepipes for activities such as watering gardens and washing cars, windows and patios, or filling swimming and paddling pools. It will be enforced from today and until further notice, with those who ignore the ban facing fines of up to £1,000. But there was disbelief from some residents, including one who tweeted: 'Since I heard of a hosepipe ban in Kent a few days ago, I have passed no less than three underground pipes that appear to have broken, and water has been coming out, on main roads.' Another tweeted: 'Water leak on Batts Bridge Road, Uckfield. Water leak in London Road, Burgess Hill. And yet we are subject to a hosepipe ban. What a shambles.' In response, South East Water wrote: 'We understand it's frustrating to see leaks when there's a hosepipe ban. We're seeing record demand for drinking water in Kent and Sussex.' Rosie Duffield, the independent MP for Canterbury in Kent, said at the time of South East Water's announcement last week that a hosepipe ban had been 'inevitable' after supply issues had already impacted some areas. She added: 'Alongside many residents, I am angry as to why this was not called earlier to help prevent the unacceptable shortages and disruption suffered by many in our area.' South East Water said in a statement last week: 'Demand for drinking water in Kent and Sussex has reached record levels since May – with the ongoing warm and dry weather, we're all using far more water than usual. 'This situation has left us with no choice but to restrict the use of hosepipes and sprinklers, so we can help our reservoirs and underground water storage recover. 'We also continue to monitor the situation in our Western region, where we serve customers in parts of Surrey, Hampshire and Berkshire.' Customers will only be allowed to use a hosepipe when it is required for unavoidable health or safety reasons, for the welfare of animals – including fish – and if the hosepipe is not connected to mains water supply, according to the water company. All four UK nations saw their warmest spring on record this year, with England experiencing the driest spring since 1893, according to the Met Office. It has also been the driest start to the year since 1976 for England. Rainfall across England was 20 per cent less than the long-term average for June, which was also the hottest on record for the country, with two heatwaves driving unusually high demand for water, the Environment Agency has said. Drought was declared in East and West Midlands on Tuesday, with the region joining swathes of northern England in drought status. The AA has urged drivers to prepare for disruption and take care on the roads. The breakdown service said: 'This amount of rain is well over a month's worth for a normal July. 'As well as heavy rain, impacts from frequent lightning, gusty winds and large hail are also likely. 'These storms could affect some of the popular holiday routes for early departures on this year's summer getaway. 'While localised flash flooding and the sudden appearance of surface water are the usual dangers associated with summer heavy rain, the potential for slippery road surfaces at junctions and roundabouts is a hidden menace.'
Telegraph
5 days ago
- Business
- Telegraph
How to (legally) get around a hosepipe ban
Paddling pools and sprinklers are going to be off the cards for millions of homeowners across England this summer, after four water companies imposed a hosepipe ban on their customers. At the time of writing, customers of South East Water, Southern Water, Thames Water and Yorkshire Water are, or will soon be, placed under a hosepipe ban. Currently, only certain areas being served by these companies are affected. If you're tempted to ignore the ban, be aware that you'll technically be breaking the law. Gary Rycroft, consumer law expert and The Telegraph's Ask a Laywer columnist, says 'Hosepipe bans are legally enforceable in that water companies have statutory powers under the Water Industry Act 1991 and Flood and Water Management Act 2010 to impose fines on anyone acting in violation of a ban.' If you're caught breaking the rules, it could cost you. However, there are exemptions – more than you might think – and if just one of them applies to you, you can continue using your hosepipe or sprinkler as normal. Here, Telegraph Money explains everything you need to know: Which companies are banning the use of hosepipes? Yorkshire Water – which also supplies households in parts of Lincolnshire and Derbyshire – kicked off its ban on July 11, while the South East Water ban came into force a week later on July 18, affecting households across Kent and Sussex.
Daily Mail
5 days ago
- Climate
- Daily Mail
Month's worth of rain falls on London and South East as Met Office issues amber thunderstorm alert - while millions face hosepipe ban
A month's worth of rain is set to fall on London and the south East today, with the Met Office issuing an amber thunderstorm alert for the region. Intense thunderstorms and torrential rain could cause flooding and even pose a danger to life in some areas, while buildings are at risk of being damaged by floodwater, lightning strikes, hail or strong winds. Issued from 4am to 11am, the warning comes amid fears that up to 4in (100mm) of rainfall could occur in just a few hours - equivalent to more than a month's worth of rain. It marks the first amber warning issued for the capital in 18 months after Storm Henk battered England and Wales with strong winds in January 2024. Millions of people across major towns and cities are set to be impacted by the intense bouts of rainfall, including those in London, Brighton, Portsmouth, Chelmsford, St Albans and Cambridge. It comes as the second major hosepipe ban came into force yesterday, with restrictions activated by South East Water for 1.4million people across Kent and Sussex in Ashford, Canterbury, Eastbourne, Maidstone, Haywards Heath and Tunbridge Wells. Yorkshire Water became the first major water firm to bring in a ban last Friday - and Southern Water restrictions will start in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight from Monday. Then from Tuesday, Thames Water will bring in a ban for customers in Oxfordshire, Gloucestershire, most of Wiltshire and some parts of Berkshire - but not London. Meteorologists fear that the heavy rain will not make a major difference to the ground because surfaces are extremely dry and will therefore not absorb much water. Forecasters have warned that the heavy rain could create 'fast flowing or deep floodwater, causing a danger to life'. 'Torrential rain, with thunderstorms in places, could lead to some significant surface water flooding during Saturday morning,' the Met Office said. An ongoing deluge may also cause 'significant impacts' if it hits 'more urban areas'. Homes and businesses are likely to be battered by floods, and that flooding could happen quickly, with some communities at risk of being cut off if roads flood. The Met Office added that the warning area 'includes London which is particularly susceptible to surface water issues during thunderstorms due to the high proportion of impermeable surfaces'. Forecasters said that within this area, 20 to 40mm of rain could fall in an hour, with up to 70mm to 100mm accumulating in just a few hours, adding: 'If these higher totals fall over urban areas, there could be notable impacts.' The persistent cloud and rain means that temperatures across the UK are expected to be relatively low, remaining mainly in the high teens to low 20s, though brighter spells in the south could potentially reach the mid to high 20s. Homes and businesses are likely to be battered by floods, and that flooding could happen quickly, with some communities at risk of being cut off if roads flood Saturday, July 19, rainfall forecast across the UK. Millions of people across major towns and cities are set to be impacted by the intense bouts of rainfall, including those in London, Brighton, Portsmouth, Chelmsford, St Albans and Cambridge A yellow warning for thunderstorms has also been issued for the north of England, Midlands and eastern half of the country from midnight, running until 9pm on Saturday. That warning area also covers the Greater Manchester region, where Oasis are playing another comeback gig at Heaton Park tonight. With storms set to cause 'disruption', the Met Office added: 'Areas of heavy rain with embedded thunderstorms will move north-westwards across a large swathe of central and eastern England through Friday night into Saturday. 'Rain will likely be torrential in places, bringing 20-30mm in less than an hour, with 60-90 mm in two to three hours possible in a few places.' Frequent lightning and localised surface water flooding are also possible. In Scotland, a yellow rain warning covers the eastern side from Aberdeen to the borders from 4pm on Saturday until noon on Sunday. A further warning is then set to comes into place for Cornwall and much of Devon until 3am on Monday. Chief Met Office meteorologist Andy Page warned that 'intense rainfall' is set to hit the UK, adding that the weekend is also 'expected to be busy on the roads' as more schools in England and Wales finish for the summer holidays. The Met Office added that the warning area 'includes London which is particularly susceptible to surface water issues during thunderstorms due to the high proportion of impermeable surfaces' for South East England tomorrow, from 4am to 11am Where are the hosepipe bans in the UK in 2025? Yorkshire Water - all 5.7million customers, since July 11 South East Water - 1.4million customers in Ashford, Canterbury, Eastbourne, Maidstone, Haywards Heath and Royal Tunbridge Wells, from July 18 Southern Water - 1million customers in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight, from July 21 Thames Water - 1.1million customers in OX, GL, SN, RG4, RG8 and RG9, from July 22 He said: 'A range of severe weather warnings have been issued, including an Amber warning covering southeast England and London. The intense rainfall could lead to surface water flooding as well as frequent lightning and hail too. 'The situation is evolving, and warnings may be changed or added. This weekend is expected to be busy on the roads as more schools in England and Wales break up for the summer holidays, so it's important people keep up-to-date with the very latest forecast. 'There will be spells of more pleasant weather in parts of the UK through the weekend, with some sunny spells in between systems as they move through.' The AA has urged drivers to prepare for disruption and take care on the roads, with the breakdown service stating that 'this amount of rain is well over a month's worth for a normal July'. They added: 'As well as heavy rain, impacts from frequent lightning, gusty winds and large hail are also likely. 'These storms could affect some of the popular holiday routes for early departures on this year's summer getaway. 'While localised flash flooding and the sudden appearance of surface water are the usual dangers associated with summer heavy rain, the potential for slippery road surfaces at junctions and roundabouts is a hidden menace.' National Rail also advised passengers to check the service before they travel and allow extra time for their journeys, with speed restrictions possible in affected areas. The weather is expected to remain unsettled on Sunday with showers or longer spells of rain, some of it heavy and thundery. But, certain parts of the UK are set to experience bouts of warm weather and brighter, drier spells throughout the weekend, particularly in the East and South East of England. Alex Burkill, meteorologist at the Met Office, warned that the high temperatures could become 'quite uncomfortable' in some parts of the country. He said: 'In the south and east, there is further chance of staying dry and some decent sunshine on offer. 'So there's a lot of heat around, high humidity as well, quite uncomfortable for some of us. 'As we go into the weekend, with the heat and the humidity, there's a fairly strong chance that we are going to see some heavy, thundery rain, feeding up from the south. That is likely to become pretty widespread across much of the country as we go through Saturday and into Sunday.' Unsettled conditions are forecast to last until next week before showers ease by Wednesday. Temperatures will be warm depending on the sunshine and conditions may settle by mid-week with showers still in the east. On July 11, South East Water announced its hosepipe ban as the ongoing dry weather and hot temperatures across England have resulted in record-breaking water demand. The firm said the ban means customers in Kent and Sussex will not be able to use hosepipes for activities such as watering gardens and washing cars, windows and patios, or filling swimming and paddling pools. Enforced from yesterday and until further notice, those who ignore the ban face fines of up to £1,000. But there was disbelief from some residents, including one who tweeted: 'Since I heard of a hosepipe ban in Kent a few days ago, I have passed no less than three underground pipes that appear to have broken, and water has been coming out, on main roads.' Another tweeted: 'Water leak on Batts Bridge Road, Uckfield. Water leak in London Road, Burgess Hill. And yet we are subject to a hosepipe ban. What a shambles.' In response, South East Water wrote: 'We understand it's frustrating to see leaks when there's a hosepipe ban. We're seeing record demand for drinking water in Kent and Sussex.' Rosie Duffield, the independent MP for Canterbury in Kent, said at the time of South East Water's announcement last week that a hosepipe ban had been 'inevitable' after supply issues had already impacted some areas. She added: 'Alongside many residents, I am angry as to why this was not called earlier to help prevent the unacceptable shortages and disruption suffered by many in our area.' South East Water said in a statement last week: 'Demand for drinking water in Kent and Sussex has reached record levels since May – with the ongoing warm and dry weather, we're all using far more water than usual. 'This situation has left us with no choice but to restrict the use of hosepipes and sprinklers, so we can help our reservoirs and underground water storage recover. 'We also continue to monitor the situation in our Western region, where we serve customers in parts of Surrey, Hampshire and Berkshire.' Under the ban, customers will only be allowed to use a hosepipe when it is required for unavoidable health or safety reasons, for the welfare of animals – including fish – and if the hosepipe is not connected to mains water supply, according to the water company. It comes after all four UK nations experienced their warmest spring on record this year, with England experiencing its driest spring since 1893 and the driest start to the year since 1976. June also marked England's warmest on record, with average temperatures hitting a balmy 16.9°C - the highest recorded since the series began in 1884. Last month was also the second warmest on record for the UK, which saw an average temperature of 15.2°C. Across June, two heatwaves were confirmed across England and Wales - one in the third week of the month, and the second closing out the month. Rainfall across England was also 20 per cent less than the long-term average for June, which was also the hottest on record for the country, with two heatwaves driving unusually high demand for water, the Environment Agency has said. Drought was declared in East and West Midlands on Tuesday, with the region joining swathes of northern England in drought status. Looking ahead, the UK is likely to see more frequent and intense heatwaves, according to the Met Office. Just last month, the Met Office's research showed that the chances of hitting 40°C are climbing at pace.
