Some rain may come this week, but that won’t solve the water shortage
Prime Minister Andy Burnham meets weather experts at the Met Office. (Image: Getty)
Ministers are considering tough new restrictions on using water – even though rain is forecast in parts of the country. Experts have warned that rainfall may not be enough to offset a heatwave that has left reservoir levels dangerously low. And there are fears that higher temperatures will come later in the year.
Already, 27 million people in England are living in areas covered by hosepipe bans. But the new measures could include a ban on car washes, private swimming pools – including in gyms and hotels – and even cleaning windows. Whitehall officials included the measures in plans for a “reasonable worst case scenario”, the Times reports. Water companies are charged with enforcing the measures, which could also include a ban on watering football pitches and other sports grounds.
There are 31 reservoirs in England and Wales, and 12 of them have low levels of water. High temperatures have also damaged infrastructure and increased leaks. Prime Minister Andy Burnham last week met weather experts at the Met Office.
The Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs and the Environment Agency have set up weekly meetings of the National Drought Group, a body which also includes the Met Office, water companies and nature experts.
A Government spokesperson told the Times: “As any responsible government would, we are preparing for a range of scenarios and working with the National Drought Group to help maintain water supplies.
“We expect water companies to follow their established drought management plans and go further and faster to reduce leaks. We are clear that the water sector is not working for bill payers. That is why we are driving long-term change, including requiring companies to deliver record investment in infrastructure and changing the planning system to enable the construction of nine new reservoirs.”
The hot weather could also lead to higher food prices. Many experts are forecasting that Consumer Prices Index (CPI) inflation will rise to 2.9% in July, up from a 15-month low of 2.6% in June and the highest rate since March.
The ongoing conflict in the Middle East is pushing up energy costs, and there are also concerns over food inflation, with producers warning earlier this week that soaring temperatures and droughts across the UK and Europe are set to drive prices higher.
The Food and Drink Federation said “fruit, vegetable and grain supply” is being hit by recent heatwaves, with crop shortages set to feed into supermarket prices.
Economists from the trade group suggested that this will put upward pressure on food inflation going into 2027.
The Office for National Statistics data for Retail Prices Index inflation in July will also be watched closely, as the July rate is used to calculate next year’s train fare increase.
Last November, the then Chancellor Rachel Reeves announced that rail fares in England would be frozen in 2026 – the first such freeze for 30 years – but it is unclear if the Government will extend this for a second year.