Wessex Water warns of potential hosepipe ban
Wessex Water has warned that a hosepipe ban may be introduced as water demand has risen 30 percent due to the ongoing heatwave and dry weather.
The Full Story
A plain summary built from the channels that reported this story.
Wessex Water has warned that a hosepipe ban may be introduced unless customers cut their water use. The company, which supplies 1.3 million people across Bath, Weston-super-Mare and parts of Wiltshire and Dorset, said demand had risen by more than 30 per cent during the recent heatwave and dry weather. It said supplies were currently stable but under pressure, and with temperatures expected to rise later this week, households needed to make savings to avoid restrictions.
The warning comes as other water companies take action. Southwest Water will impose a hosepipe ban in parts of Somerset from tomorrow, citing a lack of rain and high demand. Thames Water brought in a ban affecting parts of Gloucestershire and Wiltshire last month. The rules ban the use of hosepipes for watering gardens, washing cars and cleaning windows.
The dry conditions have also affected institutions such as Cheltenham racecourse. The clerk of the course said they faced fresh challenges maintaining the track, but unlike in the drought of 1976, the course now has a high-tech watering system and its own reservoir. He said the wet winter had left them in a better position than in 1976.
Wessex Water said it had not had to impose a hosepipe ban for 50 years, since the 1976 heatwave. It urged customers to make small changes, such as not washing cars, letting lawns go brown, reusing paddling pool water and recycling washing-up water for plants. Residents in Devizes said they were already taking shorter showers and using watering cans instead of hosepipes.
An amber heat health alert is in place for the rest of the week, and Wessex Water said it was deploying extra teams to detect and repair leaks. The company said it would do its best to avoid a ban, but warned that without a drop in demand, restrictions would be necessary.
On screen
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Key Claims
Claims reported during this story's coverage, mapped by channel. Ordered by how many channels carried each claim.
| Claim | BBC One | ITV |
|---|---|---|
| A hosepipe ban will be introduced in Somerset from tomorrow. | · | |
| An amber heat health alert was issued for the remainder of the week. | · | |
| Cheltenham racecourse has its own reservoir and high-tech watering system. | · | |
| Thames Water introduced a hosepipe ban in parts of Gloucestershire and Wiltshire last month. | · | |
| Wessex Water has not imposed a hosepipe ban for 50 years, since the 1976 heatwave. | · | |
| Wessex Water may impose a hosepipe ban if demand does not drop. | · | |
| Wessex Water reported water demand up by more than 30 percent. | · | |
| Wessex Water supplies 1.3 million people across the region. | · |
Channel Perspectives
What each channel focused on, with key quotes.
The BBC focused on the wider regional water crisis, reporting on bans imposed by other water companies and the impact on Cheltenham racecourse. It drew comparisons with the 1976 drought and highlighted how the racecourse has adapted with modern irrigation. It did not directly mention Wessex Water's warning, instead covering the broader context of water shortages across the West Country.
- “parts of summerset will be under a hose pipe ban from tomorrow southwest water says it's because of a lack of rain during the recent heat waves and high demand for supplies”
- “it comes after tem's water brought in a ban affecting bits of Gloucestershire and Wiltshire last month”
- “it now has a high-tech watering system and its own reservoir”
ITV News West Country focused directly on Wessex Water's warning, reporting the 30 per cent rise in demand and the potential for a hosepipe ban. It included interviews with residents and a Wessex Water spokesperson, offering practical advice on cutting water use. The tone was urgent and community-focused, highlighting the local impact of the dry weather.
- “Wessex Water reporting that usage is up by more than 30 percent”
- “Without a drop in demand the company says it will have to introduce water restrictions so things like a hosepipe man.”
- “We're now in unprecedented times with the weather everyone can see that it's been extremely dry and extremely hot for a long time.”
Broadcast Timeline
News broadcasts tracked for this story, in time order.