Parts of England have been hit with the first hosepipe ban, as rivers run "exceptionally low" after this summer's heatwave.
The ban covers Hampshire and the Isle of Wight, and all areas supplied by Southern Water.
It will come into place from today at 5pm.
There is currently no indication of when it will end.
While the ban is in place, people are being told they cannot use water for the following:
- Watering a garden using a hosepipe
- Cleaning a private motor-vehicle using a hosepipe
- Watering plants on domestic or other non-commercial premises using a hosepipe
- Cleaning a private leisure boat using a hosepipe
- Filling or maintaining a domestic swimming or paddling pool
- Drawing water, using a hosepipe, for domestic recreational use
- Filling or maintaining a domestic pond using a hosepipe
- Filling or maintaining an ornamental fountain
- Cleaning walls, or windows, of domestic premises using a hosepipe;
- Cleaning paths or patios using a hosepipe
- Cleaning other artificial outdoor surfaces using a hosepipe.
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Souther Water said: "We’re asking you to reduce your water use because we need to urgently reduce the demand on the River Test and River Itchen, which is where some of your fresh water supply comes from."
"For the past eight months we’ve had very little rain – way below average.
"In fact, we’re experiencing one of the driest years on record (for the past 131 years).
"River flows are now approximately 25 per cent lower than they should be at this time of year, so we're asking you to limit your use to reduce the risk of further restrictions and disruption to water supplies, but more importantly to protect our local rivers."
It added: "We're introducing a Temporary Use Ban from August 5 2022 in Hampshire and on the Isle of Wight for everyone who has their water supplied by us.
"At the same time, we have applied to the Environment Agency for a Drought Permit on the River Test – a vital source of fresh water for South Hampshire – to allow us to continue to take water if levels continue to drop."
Record temperatures hit more than the 40c for the first time ever in England on Tuesday of last week.
Brits were warned that the weather posed a danger to life, put intense pressure on the NHS and would cause disruption across transport networks.
On the day the national weather agency tweeted: "For the first time ever, 40 Celsius has provisionally been exceeded in the UK.
"London Heathrow reported a temperature of 40.2C at 12.50pm today.
"Temperatures are still climbing in many places, so remember to stay WeatherAware."
