Thames Water issues Oxford heatwave warning as 30C forecast

The company revealed that last week’s Met Office red alert temperatures triggered a sharp spike in demand for drinking water across its region, with daily household use surging by around 30 per cent.

As temperatures neared 30C across Oxfordshire and the UK recorded the hottest June day on record, surpassing the mark set during the 1976 heatwave, the Thames Valley and Home Counties saw usage exceed 750 million litres a day.

Thames Water supplied an extra 316 million litres in the Thames Valley compared with the same week last year and reported exceptionally high demand in areas including Oxford.

Customers in these hotspots were asked to use water responsibly and focus on essential needs to help keep supplies flowing.

Andrew Tucker, water demand reduction manager, said demand in some areas rose so quickly that people were using water faster than it could be produced and moved through the network.

He urged households to avoid hosepipes and sprinklers, reuse paddling pool water, let lawns go golden and delay non‑essential outdoor jobs during extreme heat.

The hot, dry conditions also increased the risk of leaks as dry ground can cause pipes to shift.

Frontline teams have been working around the clock to keep water flowing, fixing hundreds of leaks each week, monitoring the network 24/7 and moving water around the system.

With temperatures forecast to rise again this weekend, Thames Water is urging customers to stay hydrated while using water wisely.