Southern Water seeks first drought water ban since 2006 amid heatwave

Britain’s largest water provider for the south of England has formally applied for a drought order that would bar non‑essential water use by businesses. The request, which would be the first such ban since May 2006, arrives as a fifth heatwave sweeps western Europe, with forecasters warning that temperatures could climb to 38 °C in central and south‑east England and up to 40 °C in parts of France.

Southern Water says an “exceptional” lack of rain has left reservoirs in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight at dangerously low levels. In a statement the company identified “cleaning cars” and “filling non‑domestic swimming pools” as high‑volume, low‑essential uses that could be curtailed while water supplies recover. The application will be examined by Environment Secretary Angela Eagle, who holds the power to impose the order.

The heat that has driven the water‑stress story is not a one‑off event. The UK Met Office warned earlier in the week that only average conditions for the remainder of August would be enough to eclipse last year’s record for the hottest year. That same briefing noted the highest temperature recorded so far this summer – 38 °C on June 26 in eastern England – matching the forecast for the current heatwave’s peak.

Across the Channel, France’s meteorological service is projecting temperatures of up to 40 °C in central and southern regions and 38 °C in Paris. Both nations are confronting drought‑driven pressure on water supplies, with crops shrivelling and rivers running low, according to reports from the Associated Press and Cbc.

Health and labour impacts under the heat

Hospital staff have been especially vulnerable. The Royal College of Nursing reported that nurses are collapsing from heat exhaustion. Nicola Ranger, chief executive and general secretary of the College, highlighted the strain:

"When nursing staff are collapsing, feeling dizzy, sick or even being admitted to the very hospitals they work in because their workplaces cannot handle the heat, it shows just how badly they are being failed,"

Nicola Ranger, chief executive and general secretary, via Associated Press

Ranger’s comments echo a broader concern that Britain’s built environment is ill‑equipped for such extremes; air‑conditioning units remain a rarity outside shops and offices.

Wildfire tally climbs as heat dries the countryside

Data from the National Fire Chiefs Council show that 1,017 wildfires have been recorded in England and Wales this year, matching the record‑breaking total from the previous year. Crews have been battling a blaze in the New Forest, a site that has turned “sandy brown rather than its traditional luscious green,” according to the AP report.

France is confronting its own flare‑ups. Fires have ignited in the northern Pas‑de‑Calais region and in Brittany, far from the normally hotter south. A historic fire near Bordeaux earlier in the summer forced about a quarter of a million people to flee their homes. French firefighters, stretched thin, have hinted at industrial action to demand more staff and resources.

Political response and potential restrictions

Prime Minister Andy Burnham has signalled a willingness to act on the wildfire threat, saying he will consider a ban on disposable barbecues. “I do believe we need to get the message out loud and clear,” he told reporters, adding that people should not be using those barbecues outdoors at this moment.

If Environment Secretary Angela Eagle approves Southern Water’s application, commercial car washes and non‑domestic swimming pools would be among the first to feel the restrictions.

Broader context of a drying Europe

Scientists warned in the CBC piece that rising temperatures make Europe more flammable