A HOSEPIPE ban affecting millions of Thames Water customers has come into force today with no end date in sight.
15 million people will feel the impact of the restrictions which mean people must not use a hosepipe connected to the mains water supply.
The water company's customers will no longer be able to use hosepipes for car cleaning, watering their gardens, filling swimming and paddling pools and cleaning windows.
Thames Water announced the ban earlier this month after saying water levels in its reservoirs were "much lower than usual".
It joins Welsh Water, Southern Water and South East Water and South West Water in implementing bans.
And Yorkshire Water will follow suit on August 26, with a further 5 million people affected.
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It means more than 29.4 million customers across the UK will be prohibited from using hosepipes by the end of the week.
The ban is part of efforts to reduce daily demand for water by a third – from 150 litres per person to 100 litres per person.
It comes after drought was officially declared across most of England following the driest July for 50 years.
Parts of the UK faced two days of heavy downpours and flooding last week, but the Environment Agency has said it will take weeks' worth of rain to replenish water sources and end the drought.
In a statement issued last week, Thames Water said: "We've been working around the clock to supply everyone, and customers have been brilliant at saving water where they can.
"But, with low rainfall forecast for the coming months, we now need to take the next step in our drought plan.
"Everything we do now will help protect supplies next summer and help the environment."
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Since bans have been introduced in recent weeks, people have been encouraged to report neighbours for breaching bans.
However, the National Police Chiefs' Council has urged people not to report any breaches to the police, as it is a civil matter – not criminal.
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