Is a hose pipe BAN on its way? Brits are told to avoid baths, put less water in the kettle and only do FULL loads of laundry as hot dry weather set to return this month with sweltering temperatures expected to hit over 98F

• Britain could face a hose pipe ban if sweltering weather continues in the summer
• Brits advised to follow water-saving methods such as having showers, not baths
• Temperatures are expected to reach over 98F in London and the South by July 15

Brits have been told to avoid baths, put less water in the kettle and only do fully loads of laundry in a bid to avoid a hose pipe ban as hot dry weather returns this month.

Water bosses have advised residents to follow water-saving advice as temperatures are forecast to reach up to 98F in London and in the South by July 15.

High temperatures are expected across much of the country through next week with the mercury pushed over 93F in the midlands and 80F in the North.

An Environment Agency spokesperson said: ‘People should use water wisely and follow advice from their suppliers.

‘Further hot, dry weather could put pressure on some areas. We will continue to take action where necessary. 

‘River flows and reservoir levels have receded across central and south western England.’

Brits have been told to avoid baths, put less water in the kettle and only do fully loads of laundry as hot dry weather returns this month (pictured sun-seekers on Brighton waterfront)

Temperatures are expected to reach up to 98F in London and in the South by July 15, with the mercury pushed over 93F in the midlands and 80F in the North (pictured, crowds flock to Brighton beach to enjoy the good weather)

Water bosses have advised residents to follow water-saving advice in a bid to avoid a hose pipe ban later in the summer (stock image)

Water supplies have given a variety of advice with Thames Water suggesting Brits ‘ave water by only starting the washing machine once it’s fully loaded.’

Anglian Water told the Daily Star that residents to ‘use every space in your dishwasher before putting it on.’

While Scottish Water said people should ‘fill the kettle with only the water you need to help protect a precious resource by saving water.’

Government water regulator Ofwat said: ‘If possible, take a shower instead of a bath. A five-minute shower uses half the volume of a bath. 

‘Wait until you have a full load before using your washing machine or dishwasher.’

The UK is set to enjoy a plume of hot weather moving north from the Azores and set to arrive at Britain’s shores next week.  

Met Office weather forecaster Aidan McGivern said: ‘If drier, sunnier and warmer weather is your thing then I think you will enjoy this 10 day trend because there are strong signals for the weather to settle down and slowly warm up through next week.

‘Here’s the chart for Monday next week and already high pressure near the Azores is starting to influence our weather, it is starting to build in from the west but it is going to take its time, low pressure is still close by.

‘Eventually that high will allow the low pressure to take more of a northerly track leaving the UK behind, pushing the jet stream away from our shores.’

The most recent fears of a hose pipe ban came in May 2020. It was the driest May in 124 years after only 1.25in (31.8mm) of rain fell in the month following an unusually dry and sunny April. 

Yorkshire Water at the time warned customers not to spray their lawns and take four-minute showers rather than baths after seeing a spike in demand amid the UK’s first Covid-19 lockdown.

The company asked its three million households to voluntarily cut their water usage, urging people to turn the taps off when brushing their teeth.

A spokesman said at the time: ‘This good weather has meant we haven’t had much rain over the past few months and the levels of water in our reservoirs are lower than they normally would be. 

‘We’re also seeing people use more water than they normally would. Life is very different at the moment and we’re spending more time at home and in our gardens watering plants, filling paddling pools and pressure washing outside areas.’ 

The UK saw an average of only 1.25in (31.8mm) of rain across the UK in May 2020, making it the driest May in 124 years. Pictured, the dried-up reservoir in Bolton, Greater Manchester

United Utilities, the company which supplies water to the North East, applied for a drought order to take supplies from Ennerdale Water (pictured) in the Lake District to sustain supplies in west Cumbria 

South East Water also issued a warning to customers after the region saw only 0.23in (5.8mm) of rainfall through May, making it drier than the Sahara. 

While United Utilities, the company which supplies water to the North East, applied for a drought order to take supplies from Ennerdale Water in the Lake District to sustain supplies in west Cumbria. 

The last widespread hose pipe ban took place in 2018a and saw seven million households with water restrictions following the longest heatwave in the UK since 1976.  

Customers were not allowed to use a hose to water their garden or plants while cleaning cars, windows, paths and outdoor surfaces with a hose was also banned – with offenders facing criminal prosecution and fines of up to £1,000.

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