Has Severn Trent issued a hosepipe ban? Water bosses issue important update as 'rain not due for a while'

As parts of the UK bake in the third heatwave of the year, Severn Trent, which covers Mid Wales and the Midlands, has issued an important update.

Some areas have already been told of a hose pipe ban, bosses at Severn Trent are keeping an eye on the situation and working hard to keep the ‘taps running’.

Customers were contacted today (Friday) and asked to ‘give nature a hand by using a watering can instead of a sprinkler’ and to ‘reuse paddling pool water’.

The company said: “Hi, it's Severn Trent. The heatwave is back and rain's not due for a while. While we're working hard to keep taps flowing, let's all give nature a hand by using a watering can instead of a sprinkler or reusing paddling pool water. Visit www.stwater.co.uk/wonderful-on-tap/save-water/ thank you and enjoy summer!”

So is there a hose pipe ban in place?

No, Severn Trent does not currently have a hosepipe ban in place. In fact, the company has an impressive 30-year track record of not declaring one, having last implemented restrictions in 1995.

Read more: Full week forecast as amber heat alert issued

A Severn Trent spokesperson said: “It’s the third heatwave of the summer with no rain expected and we’re seeing people use much more water for longer periods than usual, and whilst we don’t have any restrictions in place, we’d really welcome everyone’s support to be mindful of water use.

“In one day alone this week, an extra 203 million litres of water was used, and on average, people are using an extra 44 litres of water each day. Water is being used for longer and the usual ‘evening peak’ that finishes at 9pm is now stretching through until 1am each day, so high usage is over longer periods of time.

“We understand people want to care for their gardens, but grass will bounce back once the rain returns. In north Staffordshire, the first water resources trigger has been reached because of the dry weather, this means customers here are being asked to be more mindful.

“There are no restrictions in place in the Severn Trent region and we want to reassure everyone that we’re working round the clock, producing hundreds of millions of extra water each day, and because of the heatwave and the extra water that’s being used, we’d really appreciate your support to keep water flowing this summer.”