Thames Water urges cuts as heatwave spikes demand 50%

Millions of residents across London and southeast England have been urged to voluntarily conserve water as a record-breaking heatwave places severe strain on regional supplies. Thames Water, the nation's largest water supplier, issued the appeal after demand surged by up to 50 percent in some areas, with customers consuming an additional 387 million litres in a single day.

The company stopped short of imposing a formal hosepipe ban but made a series of specific requests. It asked households to use watering cans instead of hoses or sprinklers, delay washing cars, allow lawns to turn brown, and reuse water wherever possible. Suggestions included recycling paddling pool water for plants and keeping bowls of water in sinks for reuse. The company stated that hot weather causes rapid spikes in water use, particularly for outdoor activities, and that it is working to keep water flowing.

The appeal comes as the region experiences unprecedented May temperatures. On Monday, Kew Gardens recorded 35.1 degrees Celsius, exceeding the previous UK May record. The Met Office reported that 163 weather stations broke their local May maximum temperature records, with the heat expected to continue.