With the third heatwave of the year gripping London this week, fears of a hosepipe ban hitting the capital are growing.
As temperatures reach towards 34C, Thames Water has said it has struggled to keep up with demand at times - but has thus far stopped short of imposing a ban.
The company, which has been heavily criticised for its performance on sewage and leakages, has instead appealed to its 16 million customers in London and the south east to not use their hosepipes to water their gardens, clean their cars or for other purposes.
Hosepipe bans are already in place elsewhere in the south of England, with South East Water imposing a ban in Kent due to “sustained high temperatures and near record levels of demand”.
Southern Water has also confirmed that a hosepipe ban will be put in place in Hampshire and on the Isle of Wight from Friday July 10.
But could a ban be introduced in London? And when is it next going to rain in the capital?
Could there be a hosepipe ban in London?
Thames Water chiefs have also urged customers to avoid filling or topping up paddling pools unless necessary, and to delay washing cars and other vehicles.
They have also been advised to turn off taps when they are not in use, and to only use the “water you need and avoid unnecessary waste where you can”.
Thames Water said that water use soared to three billion litres a day during the record-breaking heatwave in June, with water being used “faster than we can deliver it through our network” at times.
Andrew Tucker, water demand reduction manager at Thames Water, said: “All our water is drinking-quality and comes from local sources, so small changes, such as using a watering can, reusing water and delaying non-essential outdoor jobs, can reduce what we need to take from the environment.
“We are asking customers to avoid using hosepipes and sprinklers on lawns and gardens so that supplies can be maintained for everyone during periods of exceptionally high demand.”
An amber heat health alert has been issued for London by the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) from 9am on Wednesday until 9pm on Sunday.
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A high temperature of 34C was recorded in Teddington, southwest London on Monday.
A hosepipe ban stops customers using a hosepipe for non-essential activities, including: watering gardens, including using a sprinkler system; filling paddling pools, hot tubs, swimming pools, ponds or fountains; washing cars, patios or windows.
When will it next rain in the capital?
The last rain recorded in London was on June 27 when thunderstorms hit the city.
According to the Met Office, clear skies will dominate the capital for the rest of the week, before a possibility of showers and thunderstorms over the weekend.
A Met Office spokesman said: “The dominance of high pressure is restricting any chances of rain in the current forecast, though there is a chance of some isolated thundery outbreaks of rain in parts of the southeast on Thursday evening.
“These are likely to be short-lived in nature and highly localised, so many won’t see these at all.
“Temperatures are likely to drop for London at the start of next week, with the chance of showers or thunderstorms in parts of southern England, though this is an emerging element of the forecast and will have more details added in the coming days.”
If there is no rain this weekend, the next precipitation could be on Friday July 17th, with BBC Weather forecasting drizzle over that weekend.