A second water company which operates in Essex has announced a hosepipe ban from next week, as record heat and soaring demand put pressure on supplies.
The Temporary Use Ban issued by Affinity Water will come into force at 00:01 on Friday, July 17, covering customers across the company's Central region, including Essex, Hertfordshire, Bedfordshire, Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Surrey, and parts of London.
The move follows what has been confirmed as the warmest June on record in England, with temperatures reaching 37.7C.
Affinity Water says demand for water is currently around 20 per cent higher than usual, while supplies have been reduced — particularly from Grafham Water reservoir, which typically provides about 10 per cent of the region's water.
The company warned that without action, demand could exceed the amount of water it is licensed to supply by the Environment Agency, increasing the risk of shortages and environmental damage.
Residents are being urged to cut back on water use immediately, ahead of the official start date.
Under the ban, customers must not use a hosepipe for activities such as watering gardens, washing cars, cleaning patios or driveways, washing windows, or filling paddling pools and swimming pools.
Some exemptions apply, including for customers on the Priority Services Register, those receiving support through the WaterSure tariff, and Blue Badge holders.
Stephen Plumb, Asset Strategy and Capital Delivery Director at Affinity Water, said: "We don't take a decision like this lightly, but with demand for water use at unprecedented levels, we need to act now to protect supplies — for our customers, especially those who are most vulnerable, for the communities we serve, and for the environment.
"We know a hosepipe ban is disruptive, and we apologise for the inconvenience this will cause.
"We would like to thank customers for their support so far this summer and for working with us to help protect our water supply.
"Every bit of water saved makes a difference."
The restrictions will remain in place until water levels recover and demand returns to sustainable levels.
Affinity Water said it will continue to monitor the situation and provide updates.
Full details, including a map of affected areas and guidance for customers, are available on the Affinity Water website.
It comes as Anglian Water announced a hosepipe ban on Friday, July 10 in response to the second driest spring on record in the East of England, combined with record-breaking temperatures and ongoing high demand.
The restrictions will be enforced from Saturday, July 11 at 1am.
