Fresh hosepipe bans issued amid warnings record-breaking drought could be extended to cover millions more people as SIXTH 36C heatwave hits Britain

Nearly two million more Brits will be under a hosepipe ban from tonight as the country's record-breaking drought continues and a sixth heatwave was forecast.South West Water has announced restrictions on hosepipe use for all customers across Devon, Cornwall, parts of Dorset and Somerset and the Isles of Scilly.The company, which supplies 1.8million customers, said prolonged dry weather and high demand were placing 'increasing pressure on the region's water resources'.The official ban will come into force at 0.01am tonight, but homeowners were 'asked to begin following the restrictions immediately to help protect water supplies'.Restrictions mean customers are legally banned from using hosepipes for watering gardens, washing cars, patios and boats, or filling swimming and paddling pools.South West Water also asked businesses, homeowners and visitors to the region to ensure they 'use water wisely by taking shorter showers, turning off taps while brushing teeth and only running washing machines and dishwashers with full loads'.But the utility company - which insisted it had been 'working around the clock to maintain reliable water supplies for customers across the region' - did confirm that water can 'still be used as normal for drinking, flushing toilets, washing and cooking'.Eight other water companies – Affinity Water, Anglian Water, Cambridge Water, Dŵr Cymru Welsh Water, Essex and Suffolk Water, Southern Water, South East Water, and Thames Water - have already brought in bans, affecting about 25million customers.Parts of the UK have endured an exceptionally dry and hot spring and summer, with a drought declared last month for all of Wales and more than half of England – covering parts of the south-east including London, West Midlands and all of the south-west.But today, the Environment Agency (EA) said several further unspecified areas could be moved from 'dry weather' to drought status next week as public water supplies 'remain under increasing pressure with continued dry weather and high demand'. South West Water serves Devon, Cornwall, parts of Dorset and Somerset and the Isles of Scilly Greenwich Park in south-east London, on August 25, 2024 (left) and today (right) Primrose Hill in north London, on July 29, 2024 (left) and today (right) Victoria Tower Gardens in central London on July 30, 2024 (left) and today (right) Hampstead Heath in north-west London on August 7, 2020 (left) and today (right) Green Park in central London on August 13, 2025 (left) and today (right) The Environment Agency has declared a drought for all of Wales and more than half of EnglandThe EA added that reservoir storage in England has dropped to 69 per cent, down from 72 per cent a week ago and nearly 12 percentage points below the long-term average for the time of year.Storage stood at 85 per cent at the end of June, which was the average for that point in the year, but has fallen steadily in recent weeks.Five reservoirs are now classed as having 'exceptionally low' levels: Blagdon in Somerset (54 per cent full); Clywedog in Powys, which provides water for central and north-west England (62 per cent); the Dove group of reservoirs in Derbyshire (74 per cent); Hanningfield in Essex (60 per cent); and Wimbleball in Somerset (50 per cent). Water firms imposing hosepipe bans in 2026 Affinity WaterAnglian WaterCambridge WaterDŵr Cymru Welsh WaterEssex and Suffolk WaterSouthern WaterSouth East WaterSouth West WaterThames Water Last month was the driest July for England and Wales since records began in 1836, according to provisional figures released by the Met Office.Nineteen counties across England recorded effectively no rainfall – 1mm or less – across the whole of the month, Met Office figures show.England as a whole had just a 10th of the average rainfall for the month while Wales saw just 9 per cent of the average, with both countries seeing less than half of the rainfall in the previous record dry July in 1911.The UK, England and Wales have all recorded their sunniest July on record – and for England and Wales it was the sunniest calendar month ever observed.Sam Bottomley, South West Water's water services director, said today: 'Our teams have been working tirelessly to protect supplies for customers.'We've maximised water production wherever possible, increased leak detection and repairs, moved water around our network and introduced a wide range of operational measures to make the best use of the water available.'Introducing a hosepipe ban is never a decision we take lightly, and we fully appreciate the inconvenience it will cause. The Met Office London forecast shows the 28C heatwave threshold will be met from tomorrow Southerly winds will now draw hot continental air into the UK as the next heatwave begins The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has issued yellow heat health alerts from tomorrow A UK heatwave is official when a location records at least three consecutive days of daily maximum temperatures which meet or exceed a specified threshold - which varies by region'However, these temporary restrictions are an important step in helping to protect our rivers and essential water supplies for homes, businesses and critical services across the region.'It comes as scorching temperatures of 36C are expected in the UK next week, with heat health alerts in place warning that the hot weather is likely to affect the wellbeing of the population.The Met Office said temperatures will climb through the weekend as heatwave conditions return, with the mercury set to reach 36C in parts of East Anglia and south-east England by Thursday.This summer has seen two record-breaking heatwaves, in May and June, that led to more than 2,800 excess deaths, and two more heatwaves in July which have fuelled drought and wildfires.The fifth was confirmed on Monday as Worcestershire and Suffolk both hit three days in a row of threshold temperatures.Forecasters said the weekend will see a north-south split in the weather with Scotland and Northern Ireland likely to see spells of heavy rain, while England and Wales will remain largely dry, sunny and increasingly warm.Temperatures could reach 27C today and as high as 30C tomorrow, before climbing into the low 30s in southern and south-east England on Sunday.Highs of up to 30C are possible across parts of England and Wales on Tuesday, increasing to 32C to 34C on Wednesday.The highest temperatures are currently expected on Thursday when 36C could be seen in parts of East Anglia and south-east England. The Queen Mother Reservoir near Datchet in Berkshire is pictured this afternoon People walk up a dried-out path in the grass on Primrose Hill in north London this afternoon Sun-damaged grass in Hawley Farm Country Park in Camberley, Surrey, this afternoon People on the beach in Brighton today as the country prepares for another heatwave Scorched grass at Greenwich Park in south-east London today as the dry weather continues Low water levels at Seven Islands Pond in Mitcham Common, south London, are pictured todayMet Office deputy chief forecaster Mike Silverstone said: 'Temperatures will climb through the weekend and, more significantly, through much of next week.'After a brief dip on Monday, high pressure will move across the UK before settling to the east, allowing a southerly flow to develop. A fairly widespread heatwave is likely across large parts of England and Wales, with hot conditions developing in places.'The heat is expected to peak for much of England, Wales, Northern Ireland and Scotland on Wednesday, with up to 34C possible in parts of central and southern England and south-east Wales.'East Anglia and south-east England, however, could see temperatures even higher on Thursday. Humidity levels are also expected to increase through the week, which may make conditions feel more uncomfortable, particularly overnight.'The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has issued yellow heat health alerts for the East Midlands, West Midlands, South East, South West, East of England, Yorkshire and the Humber, and London.They will come into force at 9am tomorrow and end at 9pm on Tuesday, but could be extended further.The highest temperature of the year so far was 38.0C recorded at Lingwood in Norfolk on June 28.There have been 33 days so far this year when temperatures have exceeded 30C somewhere in the UK.The record is 34 days in 1995, so that record is likely to be broken next week.Yesterday was the first time in 36 days that nowhere in the UK had been in a heatwave, although it was also the 50th dry day in a row for Wisley in Surrey.Parts of the UK including London endured their first ever month without rain in July, with Heathrow Airport seeing 42 consecutive dry days - its longest period on record.