Cambridge Water has announced a temporary hosepipe ban to help protect local water resources and the region’s internationally important chalk streams.

The company, which supplies drinking water to around 350,000 customers across Cambridgeshire and parts of Bedfordshire, is asking its customers to help limit water use during the exceptionally hot weather.

The temporary ban will come into effect immediately and will be enforceable from 1am on Friday 17th July.

Following one of the driest springs in recent years and exceptionally warm weather throughout summer so far, demand for water across the Cambridge region has risen to record levels. Customers typically use around 86 megalitres of water a day - in recent weeks, demand has exceeded 112 megalitres a day, a 30%.

The water company said this level of demand cannot be sustained over a prolonged period and local water resources are now under significant pressure. During periods of extreme demand, water can be used faster than it can be treated and distributed.

The groundwater sources that supply customers also support the region’s chalk streams. Reducing the water the company needs to take from the local environment is crucial to help protect local rivers. That's why reducing non-essential water use now can make a real difference.

Whilst Cambridge Water has continued to maintain some of the lowest leakage levels in the industry, implemented its drought plan, and taken steps to maximise available supplies, current conditions mean further action is now needed. Cambridge Water remains committed to playing its part and is asking customers to support these efforts by using water wisely and following the temporary restrictions.

Elena Karpathakis, Managing Director, Cambridge Water said:

"We are incredibly grateful for the support of our customers at this crucial time. We know how important reliable water supplies are to the communities we serve, and we are asking customers to work with us to reduce non-essential water use while this period of exceptionally hot and dry weather continues.

"This is not a decision we have taken lightly – it is the first time in more than thirty years, since the UK drought of 1995, that we have had to introduce a temporary hosepipe ban.

“We have been doing everything possible to maintain supplies, but demand for water is currently at record levels.”