Affinity Water has confirmed that its hosepipe ban across parts of North and West London could persist for weeks, as the company reports no "significant change in weather" on the horizon. The ban, which took effect at midnight on Friday, July 10, restricts the use of hosepipes for activities such as watering gardens, washing cars, cleaning patios, paths, driveways, windows, and filling swimming or paddling pools.
Why Was the Hosepipe Ban Introduced?
The ban was implemented following the warmest June on record for England, with temperatures reaching 37.7°C. The region has experienced a prolonged period of hot, dry weather, putting pressure on water supplies. Affinity Water stated that without action, demand could exceed the amount of water it is licensed to take from rivers and underground aquifers, as permitted by the Environment Agency.
Affected Areas and Postcodes
The ban covers a large part of the South East of England, including parts of West London such as Uxbridge, Harrow, Edgware, Northolt, and Feltham. It also extends to areas bordering London, including Epping in Essex, Watford and Potters Bar in Hertfordshire, and Staines and Weybridge in Surrey. A full list of affected postcodes includes CB9, CB10, CB11, CB21, CM1, CM3-CM7, CM14-CM24, CM77, RM4, IG7, IG10, EN9-EN11, AL1-AL10, HP1-HP10, HP14-HP16, HP23, HP27, LU1-LU7, WD3-WD7, WD17-WD19, WD23-WD25, SG1-SG14, SG16, SG18, GU1-GU5, GU15, GU16, GU18-GU25, KT8, KT10-KT16, KT24, RG12, RG42, RG45, SL4, SL5, TW4-TW20, NW2-NW4, NW7, NW9-NW11, N2, N3, N6, N10-N12, N14, N20, EN2, EN4-EN7, HA0-HA9, SL0, SL2, SL3, SL9, UB1-UB11, W7, W13.
When Will the Ban Be Lifted?
In an update, an Affinity Water spokesman said: "We continually monitor water resources, customer demand and weather forecasts to assess supply and demand needs across our Regions. This includes monitoring when it is appropriate to lift the Temporary Use Ban. We don't want to keep restrictions in place any longer than necessary however, our priority is to ensure all customers continue to have a reliable water supply." The spokesman added: "Current forecasts indicate little to no significant change in our weather or predict rainfall in the coming weeks. The long-term outlook suggests conditions are likely to remain dry which will mean the restrictions will remain in place."
Impact on Customers
Affinity Water urges customers to use water sparingly to help protect supplies and the environment. The company is permitted by its regulator, the Environment Agency, to take a set amount of water each year from sources such as rivers and underground aquifers. Without the ban, demand could exceed this licensed amount, further straining local water sources.
