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Record-breaking heat and dry spring leave parts of England without water
https://www.reuters.com/business/environment/record-breaking-heat-dry-spring-leave-parts-england-without-water-2026-05-29/By Yann Tessier and Sam Tabahriti
May 29, 2026 8:10 AM EDT
Summary
WHITSTABLE, England May 29 (Reuters) - Thousands of households in southeast England were left without water or facing low pressure during a record-breaking heatwave this week, as high demand followed a dry spring to expose the failings in Britain's ageing infrastructure.
The disruption affected over 20,000 people at its height, including around 8,000 left without supply in the coastal town of Whitstable, South East Water's incident manager Matthew Dean said, with people queuing to secure emergency water supplies on Friday.
Britain, like much of Europe, has been hit by a heatwave in the last week, stoking demand for water, while well-below-average rainfall levels in March and April left some reservoirs under pressure, according to the Environment Agency.
Anger has built in recent years over the lack of investment in networks by privatised water companies, which has led to regular sewage spills.
…
May 29, 2026 8:10 AM EDT
Summary
- Heatwave and dry spring cause water outages in southeast England
- Residents blame South East Water
- Experts and officials warn climate change will worsen supply issues
WHITSTABLE, England May 29 (Reuters) - Thousands of households in southeast England were left without water or facing low pressure during a record-breaking heatwave this week, as high demand followed a dry spring to expose the failings in Britain's ageing infrastructure.
The disruption affected over 20,000 people at its height, including around 8,000 left without supply in the coastal town of Whitstable, South East Water's incident manager Matthew Dean said, with people queuing to secure emergency water supplies on Friday.
Britain, like much of Europe, has been hit by a heatwave in the last week, stoking demand for water, while well-below-average rainfall levels in March and April left some reservoirs under pressure, according to the Environment Agency.
Anger has built in recent years over the lack of investment in networks by privatised water companies, which has led to regular sewage spills.
…