Major heatwave water warning for seven areas as Brits urged to act immediately

Affinity Water is one of several water firms warning its customers to cut down on water usage as the recent heatwave places a strain on the UK's reservoir network
The UK's largest water provider has issued a major heatwave warning as already sweltering temperatures look set to climb into the stratosphere this weekend.
The last few days have seen Brits hit with sweltering heat blasts reaching well above the average for the time of year, with the southeast blasted with 31C on Thursday and a blistering 32C expected in the area on Saturday. The rest of the nation will see similar but not quite as unbearable extremes between 18C and 28C, with no sign of rain until the following week. The UK's largest water provider has warned its customers about the prolonged heat, with millions of people having now received an urgent notice.
‌
‌
Affinity Water recently sent its roughly 3.6 million customers a message telling them to help "make a real difference" over the coming days of the heatwave.
The note, sent via email, asks customers to cut back on their water consumption, and to only run the tap for "essentials" as the heat puts a "real strain on the network". It states: "To make sure we can keep water flowing to you and your community, we're asking our customers to make a real difference over the next few days.
"Please cut back where you can - delay or stop non-essential use and make every drop count. Please only use water for essentials like drinking, cooking and washing. The increase in water usage is putting a real strain on our network."
Affinity Water supplies water primarily across the southeast to approximately 1.4 million homes and 78,000 "non-household connections". Regions under its supply chain include Bedfordshire, Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Essex, Hertfordshire, Surrey, and several London boroughs, including Harrow, Hillingdon, and parts of Barnet, Brent, Ealing, and Enfield.
The network added in the email that residents of these areas are currently using water at an unsustainable rate that is "faster than we can pump it and store it".
‌
If usage stays high, the email adds, it could lead to a "no water situation". The note states: "That means your area could see lower water pressure or a no water situation if usage stays high." Affinity is far from the only water supply firm that has issued a warning to its customers, with the hot weather placing a strain on several other suppliers.
United Utilities' north west water board has asked customers to save water where they can, with reservoirs in the north of England dropping more than 20 percent below average.
Anglian Water has followed suit, telling customers to "use a little less". The company serves millions of customers across Northamptonshire, Bedfordshire, Milton Keynes, Norfolk, Lincolnshire and parts of Cambridgeshire, Buckinghamshire, Hertfordshire, Suffolk and Essex.

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Learn with AIFact CheckingText to SpeechAI Summary

Related Articles

Metro

an hour ago

• Metro

‘Intense' thunderstorm warning issued as heatwave temperatures rise

A yellow thunderstorm warning has been issued for today as Brits swelter under the hottest day of the year so far. The warning comes into place from 3pm today, with ' the most intense storms producing lightning, large hail and gusty winds, along with some heavy downpours', the Met Office forecasts. Parts of the East and West Midlands, the North East and North West of England are all covered under the warning. Wales and Yorkshire also face intense storms. There is a 'small chance' homes and businesses could face power cuts, and communities cut off by flooding. It comes as the latest spell of hot weather is expected to peak today – with temperatures of 34°C, below the June record of 35.6°C in 1976. Wildfire warnings are also in place, along with amber health warnings in parts of the UK. London Fire Brigade Assistant Commissioner Pat Goulbourne said: 'With temperatures exceeding 30 degrees Celsius and the driest spring in over a century, the risk of fires spreading rapidly is high. 'With so many of our open spaces close to homes and livelihoods, it is vital we all play our part to reduce the chance of grass fires breaking out in the first place and to protect our communities from incidents.' Aidan McGivern, from the Met Office said: 'We keep the plume of warmth and increasingly humid air across eastern parts of the UK on Saturday night, so another uncomfortable night for sleeping in the east, a little more comfortable in the west.' By Sunday, the warmer system will move northeastwards and bring with it fresher air from the Atlantic. Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@ For more stories like this, check our news page. MORE: Map shows heat dome set to break centuries-old temperature records across US MORE: Nasal breathing and lukewarm showers —how the experts sleep in hot weather MORE: Feeling impulsive? The warm weather is affecting your brain

Daily Mirror

4 hours ago

• Daily Mirror

Met Office warns of flooding and damage to buildings today despite 32C heatwave

The weather may change abruptly in your area today and on Sunday, so much so that around 20mm of rain will fall in just a few hours across parts of Lancashire, the Met Office says Some regions should prepare for flooding today - despite the scorching 32C heatwave, forecasters say. A yellow weather warning for thunderstorms blankets large swathes of England as a band of low pressure will abruptly end the sunny spell. Although temperatures peaked at 32C on Thursday in west London, today's picture will be a mixed bag - and it is largely a north-south divide. ‌ Sweltering highs of 33C are anticipated in and around London but it will be cooler - and wetter - across northern regions. With the drop in temperatures will come rain, heaviest over Merseyside, Lancashire and Cumbria. These areas, in addition to several others, are subject to the weather warning for storms which, like last Saturday's alert, is in place because of significant hazards. ‌ "There is a small chance that homes and businesses could be flooded quickly, with damage to some buildings from floodwater, lightning strikes, hail or strong winds... There is a slight chance that power cuts could occur and other services to some homes and businesses could be lost," the Met Office website reads. The storms will be scattered from around 3pm and linger throughout the night. Hail and gales are likely in some areas, particularly across the Lake District and Yorkshire Dales. The weather warning continues: "Spray and sudden flooding could lead to difficult driving conditions and some road closures. There is a small chance that some communities become cut off by flooded roads. "The most intense thunderstorms could produce frequent lightning, large hail and gusty winds, along with some heavy downpours for a time. This may lead to some surface water impacts in places." Further rain - albeit less heavy - is expected across the same regions on Sunday afternoon. North Wales will also see showers on Sunday, marking an end in these parts to the glorious weather most of the country has experienced recently. But Brits across southern England, and parts of the Midlands, will dodge showers for the whole weekend, forecasters say. The warmest regions will be the Southeast of England and East of England but it will also be pleasant across the Midlands and Southweast of England. Drizzle is anticipated across south Wales this afternoon. The Mirror reported yesterday how another band of low pressure will eventually creep across the UK from the southwest and, as a result, vicious thunderstorms will batter other areas soon. Weather maps show around 30mm of rain - more than half an average June's total - will lash across parts of the Midlands, the Home Counties and the East of England on Saturday June 28. It clashes with Glastonbury - and Somerset is expected to see some wet weather that weekend.

Daily Mirror

6 hours ago

• Daily Mirror

'I'm Queen of Clean - use a 35p supermarket buy to get suncream off clothes'

Brits are set to bask in a 38C heatwave, which means we'll all be slapping on the sunscreen – but what happens when it stains your clothes? A cleaning guru has the answer Summer has officially arrived, with the hottest day of the year already recorded at a scorching 32.2C in Kew, west London last Thursday. However, it's not all sunshine and roses as showers are forecasted to drench some regions, bringing nearly half a month's worth of rain to abruptly end the heatwave. Weather maps indicate around 30mm of rain - more than half an average June's total - is set to batter parts of the Midlands, the Home Counties and the East of England on Saturday, 28 June. Despite this, the splendid weather is expected to persist for a bit longer, with Saturday predicted to be the warmest day of the year so far, potentially reaching a staggering 38C in some areas of the East of England. People are even wondering if you can stop working when it gets too hot. Meanwhile, Brits are turning their thoughts towards paddling pools, sprinklers and ice lollies to stay cool, and barbecues for some fun in the sun. Regrettably, this season comes with its own set of stain hazards, from the risk of ketchup or barbecue sauce dripping from our burgers onto our pristine clothes, to the constant application of SPF leaving cream marks, not to mention the heat causing people to leave unsightly sweat stains. Luckily, This Morning cleaning expert Lynsey Crombie, also known as the Queen of Clean, has all the tips and tricks for tackling stubborn stains, ensuring that you can navigate the heatwave looking and feeling clean and fresh. The 15 Minute Clean: The Quickest Way to a Sparkling Home, £14.99, is available on Amazon, currently on offer for £12.29. Suncream can be a real nuisance to remove from clothes and the longer you leave it, the worse it'll become. If you're out and about when the stain happens, Lynsey recommends gently blotting it to absorb as much of the cream as possible. Alternatively, use hand sanitiser to cover the stain - this will prevent it from spreading. If you're away from home at the beach, she advises: "Cover the stain with sand to dry it out. As soon as you can, rinse the stain from the reverse under a cold water tap, to help push it out of the fabric." And in a genius hack she then recommends using a simple supermarket buy to really do the work. White wine vinegar, available in supermarkets including Aldi for just 35p, is just what you need. Lynsey says: "This can help break down the oil base of the suncream - simply cover the stain in the vinegar then leave for 30 minutes." You can also use eucalyptus oil, which she says "has magical stain removal qualities and smells incredible. Coat your stain in the stuff, leave for 15 minutes." Finally, after applying one or the other, wash the garment at the hottest temperature that's safe for the fabric, and check for the stain again before you dry. She finishes: "Once the item has dried you won't get the stain out. So if there is still a trace of the stain repeat this process again. Avoid the tumble dryer because any trace of the stain will become permanent." For anyone who has a mishap at a barbecue, by spilling sauce on their clothes, Lynsey also has the answer. She suggests first scraping off any excess sauce with a blunt knife to prevent it from seeping further into the fabric. She advises: "You should then flip the item inside out and rinse under cold running water to push the sauce out from the back, as this helps lift the stain rather than spread it. Cold water also prevents the stain from setting." But that's not all. You should then turn the garment right-side out, apply a dollop of washing-up liquid directly to the stained area, and pop it in the wash as usual. As Lynsey explains: "Washing-up liquid cuts through the grease and sugar in barbecue sauces."