Getty ImagesHosepipe bans are to be introduced across Kent, Sussex, Hampshire and the Isle of Wight after England experienced its driest July since 1935.
Under these bans, people will not be allowed to use hosepipes on lawns or plants, to clean cars or fill paddling pools.
But what's the picture across the rest of the UK? We spoke to the country's water companies:
- Thames Water said its reservoirs were below their normal levels and "if we do not receive around or above average rainfall in the coming months this will increase pressure on our resources and may indeed result in the need for more water-saving measures including restrictions"
- South West Water said "if the exceptional levels of demand and sustained dry weather continues, we may have to make the difficult decision to introduce formal restrictions over the coming weeks"
- Yorkshire Water said reservoir levels were at 51% despite recent rainfall and hosepipe bans could be implemented later in the summer if necessary
- SES Water said it was keeping the need for restrictions under close review but working to "minimise the need for any restrictions in the coming weeks and months"
- Affinity Water said it shouldn't need to introduce any restrictions, but added that was dependent on rainfall in the coming months
- Anglian Water said it continued to monitor water levels but had no plans for any restrictions
- Wessex Water said it was not facing any supply issues but "always encouraged our customers to use water responsibly"
- Portsmouth Water said it was "not considering applying for a hosepipe ban at this point in time" but was monitoring the situation "on a daily basis"
- Severn Trent Water said its region had experienced a dry start to the year but had not seen a hosepipe ban since 1995, and it continued to monitor reservoir levels closely
- Northumbrian Water said its reservoirs were below normal levels but it was "not anticipating the need for any restrictions this summer"
- South Staffordshire Water said it continued to "monitor our water resources and encourage our customers to use water wisely" but had no plans for a hosepipe ban
- Bristol Water said it did not anticipate the need for any hosepipe ban this year and was continuing to monitor the situation
- United Utilities Water said it was not considering any ban
- Dwr Cymru said levels across most of Wales were "reasonably good" but there was concern about Pembrokeshire, where rainfall has been much lower than elsewhere, and it was "monitoring the situation very closely"
- Hafren Dyfrdwy said it did not anticipate a need for any ban but was continuing to monitor the situation
- Northern Ireland Water said it was "currently content" with water levels but if they reduced significantly it "would have to consider the possibility of a hosepipe ban"
- Scotland Water said levels across Scotland were normal for this time of year and there were no plans for any restrictions
The hosepipe restrictions from Southern Water in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight will come into force on Friday. In Kent and Sussex about one million South East Water customers will face measures from 12 August.
At an emergency meeting, the National Drought Group moved England into "prolonged dry weather" status - the stage before a drought.
What is a hosepipe ban?
Restrictions on usage during hosepipe bans can vary between water providers but generally people are not allowed to use hosepipes or anything that connects to a hosepipe or an outside tap.
During a ban, people cannot use a hosepipe to:
- Water a garden or plants
- Fill a paddling or swimming pool
- Clean a car
- Fill a pond
- Clean walls or windows
But there are some exceptions when a hosepipe can be used:
- To water a new lawn within 28 days of it being laid
- For business use
- To fill pools needed for medical treatment
- To fill a fountain used for religious practices
- To top up a fishpond
Anyone breaking the rules could face a fine of up to £1,000.
How you can save water
Leigh Johnstone, who shares his gardening tips on TikTok, said plants were hardier than most people think.
More damage can be done from overwatering plants and "if you are clever about it" there are lots of ways to save water, he said.
Mr Johnstone, who started gardening in lockdown to help with his mental health, suggested using a water butt to collect rain water - best kept in the shade and with a lid on.
The TikTokker also collects rain in a cattle trough inherited from his grandma and said it made a "feature in the garden" while also attracting wildlife such as dragon flies.
The Beardy Gardener - as he is known on social media - advised people to also collect water from baths, washing up and cooking, known as grey water.
However, he cautioned against using any soapy water on food being grown.
Mr Johnstone, from Southampton, said mulching was a good method of keeping moisture in the soil and helping vegetables grow. A mulch is a layer of material applied to the surface of soil, such as wood chippings.
He also advised cutting off the end of a plastic bottle to create a funnel to use when watering plants, to help avoid waste and channel water to the roots of plants.
Looking ahead to the possibility of more dry weather, certain plants such as lavender, Euphorbia and wildflowers are more tolerant to drought, Mr Johnstone told the BBC.
Water UK said people were using twice as much water per person compared to 60 years ago and supplies could not be taken for granted.
The company, which represents the UK's water industry, suggests reusing paddling pool water, washing dogs outside instead of in the bath and filling ponds with rain water as methods to save water.
Its director of policy Stuart Colville told the BBC recent weather conditions meant water companies were producing hundreds of millions of extra litres of water every day, and that hosepipe bans typically reduce demand by around 10%.
"[Bans are] a really important part of how we manage demand during these really unprecedented conditions," he said.
The Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) has always advised against using hosepipes, said Dr Mark Gush, the organisation's head of environmental horticulture.
Instead the charity encourages gardeners to use watering cans so they are more selective with how much water they use and the water can get to the roots of the plants.
He advised creating a shallow well at the base of plants and mulching so the maximum amount of water would be retained.
Watering plants ideally in the morning, or otherwise in the evening, can also help plants use water efficiently, he added.
Dr Gush said it was an "excellent time" to install a water butt and explained plants preferred rain water because of the acidity levels.
He also said water used for cooking vegetables could be "nutritious for plants", but said there were some "unknowns" with using washing water.
With lawns, he advised letting them "grow taller" because they create deeper routes to access more water, making them "more resilient to drought".
Other water-saving tips from the RHS include installing troughs, putting saucers under plant pots and using homemade compost.
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2022-08-04 10:46:22Z
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