Thousands of people in Kent have been asked to only use water for essential reasons because of supply issues caused by “extremely high demand” in the heatwave.
South East Water said around 18,000 people are experiencing an intermittent water supply after reservoirs were drained over the bank holiday weekend as temperatures soared.
It urged people in the area to put some water aside for “essential” use such as drinking, washing, and cooking.
It comes after the hottest day in May on record for both England and Wales on Tuesday, according to the Met Office, with Kew Gardens provisionally reaching 35.1C and Cardiff Bute Park reaching 32.9C.
South East Water’s head of operations control, Matthew Dean, said: “Around 18,000 customers across Kent are still experiencing water supply issues due to extremely high demand during the very hot weather.”
He added: “We are doing everything we can to get water into our reservoirs, but some customers will continue to have intermittent water supply until reservoir levels have been restored.
“In preparation for this we have informed customers that while they have a supply they should put aside some water for essential use.
“We are continuing to ask customers in supply to use water for essential purposes only – for drinking, washing and cooking.”
He said the company was providing bottled water to vulnerable customers, adding on Tuesday the company pumped 660 million litres of water across the region, more than 100 million litres higher than the average for a day.
The hot weather is expected to continue for the rest of the week, with temperatures expected to surge to 30C in the South East on Thursday.
Rescue charities are also urging people to stay safe in the water after seven children died in swimming-related incidents during the heatwave.
On Wednesday police named a 12-year-old boy who drowned after getting into difficulty in water in Lancashire as Junior Slater. Paying tribute, his family described him as “the life and soul of our lives”.
Police in Cheshire recovered a body on Wednesday, believed to be a 17-year-old boy who went missing in the water at Pickmere Lake, Marston, Northwich on Tuesday.
The family of 15-year-old Declan Sawyer also paid tribute to their “much-loved” son, who died after he got into trouble in the water at Swanholme Lakes in Lincolnshire on Sunday.
The Royal Life Saving Society issued a plea for everyone to “stop and think” before getting into the water, following the deaths.
It noted “warmer weather unfortunately correlates to an increase in accidental drownings” and despite warmer air, “water temperatures remain very cold”.
