Thames Water announces hosepipe ban for 10million customers - including all of London - as it becomes sixth firm to bring in restrictions after record-breaking heatwaves

Thames Water announced a hosepipe ban for more than ten million customers today as the exceptionally dry and hot weather drives a surge in demand.The restriction will come into effect at 12.01am on Thursday – but the UK's biggest water company has asked households to begin following the ban now, ahead of its official start date.The temporary use ban covers the 10.1million customers that the firm supplies with water across London, the Thames Valley and the home counties but does not apply to waste-only customers.It means customers must not use hosepipes for any non-essential activities, such as watering gardens, cleaning cars, filling paddling pools or topping up hot tubs.Pressure on water resources is intensifying, with the current spell of warm weather following three unprecedented heatwaves and the driest spring on record for England and Wales.The announcement comes after the Environment Agency revealed large parts of southern, central and eastern England have moved closer to official drought status.Thames Water becomes the latest in a string of firms to impose hosepipe bans in southern England, which has seen very little rainfall this month.The company said water use is currently 10 per cent above normal in the Thames Valley and the Home Counties, as well as 7 per cent above normal in London. Thames Water becomes the latest in a string of hosepipe bans already announced this month The Thames Water hosepipe ban covers the 10.1million customers that the firm supplies across London, the Thames Valley and the home counties. These areas are marked in blueCustomers are currently using an extra 100million litres every day – equivalent to adding all the homes in Manchester to the network, the firm added.Periods of hot weather can push up demand as customers consume more water to stay cool and water gardens, while farmers use more for crop irrigation and industries use more for protecting infrastructure from the heat. Hosepipe bans across the UK this summer Anglian Water: Hosepipe ban for five million customers across eastern England in placeAffinity Water: Hosepipe ban across central area, covering Bedfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Essex, Berkshire, Hertfordshire, Surrey and parts of London in place. Company has a total of 3.9million customers.Cambridge Water: Hosepipe ban for its 350,000 customers in place.South East Water: Hosepipe ban for 850,000 people in Kent already in place. Extended to 2.4million people across Sussex, Surrey, Hampshire and Berkshire from Saturday. Southern Water: Hosepipe ban for one million people in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight in placeThames Water: Hosepipe ban for 10.1million customers across London, the Thames Valley and the home counties from Thursday Hotter temperatures can also lead to physical pressure on underground water pipes, leading to higher rates of bursts and leaks, while the lack of rainfall means very little replenishment for reservoirs.The water firm said it will keep the situation under review and lift restrictions as soon as it is safe to do so.Nevil Muncaster, director of strategic water resources at Thames Water, said: 'We would not be taking this step unless it was necessary to protect water supplies for everyone and the environment.'While there is enough water for essential use, we need to reduce non-essential outdoor demand to keep taps flowing.'Many customers have already reduced their water use and that support has made a difference. Thank you to everyone who has already changed their daily habits.'Mr Muncaster added that Thames Water teams are working around the clock to keep water moving, fix leaks and support customers.The Thames Water region received only 40 per cent of average rainfall this spring, followed by periods of exceptionally hot weather, the firm said.While the company plans for periods of dry weather and increased summer demand, it said the scale and duration of recent demand is having a 'significant impact' on water resources.Bans are also in place for Southern Water customers in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight, Cambridge Water customers, Affinity Water customers in Bedfordshire, Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Essex, Hertfordshire, Surrey and parts of London, and Anglian Water customers in the East of England. Scorched grass on playing fields in the village of Bishop's Itchington in Warwickshire todayYesterday South East Water also announced that 2.4million customers will be affected by temporary restrictions in Sussex, Surrey, Hampshire and Berkshire from Saturday, coming on top of a ban it already put in place for areas of Kent.Severn Trent, Essex and Suffolk Water, Wessex Water and Portsmouth Water have also urged customers to use water wisely amid the heatwave.The Environment Agency said six reservoirs are currently classed as having 'notably low' levels, including Wimbleball in Somerset, Grafham in Cambridgeshire and Hanningfield in Essex, while Blagdon reservoir in Somerset is classed as being 'exceptionally low'.Meanwhile, only 13 per cent of rivers are classed at normal levels for this time of year, with the Avon (Hampshire), Cam, Derwent (Yorkshire), Swale, Tone, Wye and Yare currently seeing exceptionally low levels.Helen Wakeham, chair of the National Drought Group and director of water at the Environment Agency, said: 'All sectors are taking action, and we are grateful to the public for following the restrictions, where in place, to make sure there is enough water for everyone this summer.'We want everyone to stay safe and hydrated during the hot weather but every drop we can save is a drop more for nature and agriculture.'Rainfall totals for the month of July to date ranged from 9 per cent of the long-term average in the North West to nothing in the East and South East, the Met Office said.Thames Water's lenders also revealed today that they are looking at offering a 'golden share' to the Government as part of a revised rescue deal to stave off nationalisation of the stricken supplier.The consortium of lenders bidding for the water firm said it remains in talks with regulators over a possible deal, with 'material improvements' being considered on its previous £10billion proposal to appease government concerns.It follows reports that Andy Burnham could temporarily nationalise the debt-laden company, having already signalled he wants to bring in a ten-year plan to renationalise the water industry, saying reform is needed to put the public interest first.London & Valley Water said it 'recognises that the new Government, led by Prime Minister Andy Burnham, would like to see water companies create greater local public control and involvement to strengthen accountability for protecting investment and delivering improvements'.It added: 'The consortium has evaluated potential new local public control supervisory structures for Thames Water which can be beneficial to customers and intends to discuss this with the new Secretary of State, alongside additional commitments that could be implemented through a "golden share"'.The creditors said the new supervisory structure would give 'enhanced local representation for local authorities and regional leaders'.