The UK has seen a significant increase in hosepipe restrictions, with Essex and Suffolk Water joining several other major water suppliers in imposing these measures.
Huge parts of the country are now affected by hosepipe bans due to the ongoing hot weather, with many regions experiencing drought-like conditions.
The areas affected by hosepipe bans include Bedfordshire, Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Essex, Hertfordshire, Surrey, London, Norfolk, Suffolk, Cambridgeshire, Lincolnshire, Northamptonshire, Rutland, parts of Essex, Kent, Hampshire, Isle of Wight, and Cambridge.
Essex and Suffolk Water has confirmed the restrictions, stating that they have not been taken lightly and that reducing non-essential water use will help protect rivers and wildlife while safeguarding water supplies during the hot, dry weeks ahead.
The news comes after several regions of the UK have declared a drought due to ongoing warm conditions and relentless heatwaves, resulting in the deaths of almost 3,000 people.
Wildfires continue to ravage parts of the nation, with a major incident declared this week as a fire blazed across Dunwich Heath on the Suffolk coast, spreading to the size of 150 hectares in just 24 hours.
Homes have been evacuated, and aerial images have shown the devastation the fire has caused, with the blaze coming close to a nearby holiday park.
