Car washes and swimming pools could be hit with water bans for first time in 20 years as UK braces for fifth heatwave

CAR washes and swimming pools could be banned from using water in the UK as half of England and the entirety of Wales suffers with drought conditions. Temperatures are set to soar to 35C this week with Brits bracing for the fifth heatwave of the year. Commercial car washes and swimming pools could be the next things targetted by hosepipe bans as drought lingers across the country Credit: Alamy Businesses could be the next target of ongoing hosepipe bans, as prolonged dry spells continue to put pressure on Britain’s water supplies. More than 25million households are currently under hosepipe ban restrictions across the country after introductions by nine water companies. Sign up for The Sun newsletter Thank you! Most recently, South West Water enforced a ban on all customers across Devon, Cornwall, parts of Dorset, Somerset and the Isles of Scilly in the early hours of Saturday morning. Under a temporary use ban, customers cannot use a hosepipe, sprinkler, or pressure washer for various activities, such as watering plants or filling up hot tubs. Anyone caught breaking these rules can face a £1,000 fine, unless an approved exemption or loophole is in place. However, Southern Water has now applied to the Government to issue a Non-Essential Use Ban (NEUB) across Hampshire and Isle of Wight, which acts as an extension of the standard restrictions. Both areas are amongst the seven English regions that declared drought last month, previously coming under hosepipe bans exactly a month ago on July 10. This could see businesses banned from activities involving water use, including commercial car and window washing with hosepipes, and filling up swimming pools. Most read in The Sun Which water companies have introduced hosepipe bans? The following water companies have enforced bans in these English and Welsh regions: Affinity Water: The Central region, covering Bedfordshire, Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Hertfordshire, Surrey, and parts of London and Essex Anglian Water: The whole supply region Cambridge Water: The whole supply region Dwr Cymru Welsh Water: Mid and South Ceredigion, North Pembrokeshire, and North Carmarthenshire Essex and Suffolk Water: All household customers across the supply area South East Water: Kent, Sussex, Surrey, Hampshire, and Berkshire South West Water: Devon, Cornwall, parts of Dorset and Somerset, and the Isles of Scilly Southern Water: Hampshire and the Isle of Wight Thames Water: The entire supply area, including Greater London, the Thames Valley, Surrey, Gloucestershire, and North Wiltshire Bans on maintaining swimming pools would only apply to those with private memberships, such as gyms, private health clubs, and some hotels, but not for general walk-in pools. If these restrictions are introduced, it would be the first NEUB in two decades, previously issued to Sutton and East Surrey Water back in 2006. The water company said these rules are “precautionary measures” and making an application does not mean they will be introduced. Seven areas of England, and the whole of Wales, are currently experiencing drought, with six more in “prolonged dry weather” status, meaning they are one step away from drought conditions. The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has further issued yellow heat health alerts for most of England until 9pm on Tuesday, as temperatures are set to peak in the South East on Thursday with highs of 35C. With little rain in sight, the Environment Agency has further warned that drought could be declared in even more regions this week. Comment now