Will there be a hosepipe ban in Birmingham and West Midlands?: Severn Trent issues statement amid fears

Severn Trent has not ruled out the possibility of a hosepipe ban in Birmingham and the West Midlands after weeks of below-average rainfall.

There are growing fears of a hosepipe ban for parts of the West Midlands, with Thames Water announcing water-use restrictions for 1.1 million people in the south.

The restrictions will come into effect on July 22, with anyone caught using a hosepipe at risk of being fined £1,000.

Water levels across the country have decreased due to a lack of rain and increased demand over the summer.

The West and East Midlands have officially moved into drought, with some river flows at their lowest since June 1976.

Across England, rainfall was 20% less than the long-term average for June. It was also the hottest on record for England, with three heatwaves driving unusually high demand for water.

As the UK braces for a possible fourth heatwave later this month, there are serious concerns about water demand and reduced reservoir levels. Millions of people across the Midlands could be affected.

Will there be a hosepipe ban in the West Midlands?

Severn Trent has confirmed that there are currently no plans to implement a hosepipe ban in the West Midlands

The water company, which covers a huge area stretching from Staffordshire across the East Midlands, has not issued a hosepipe ban since the summer of 1995.

However, with no significant rainfall forecast, Severn Trent is urging all customers to mindful about their water usage.

A Severn Trent spokesperson said: “Severn Trent hasn’t had a hosepipe ban for over 30 years because we know just how important it is for our customers.

"It’s why we have thousands of employees working around the clock right now to keep the water flowing.

"We’re finding and fixing more leaks than ever before, investing record amounts in new pipes, and upgrading and developing new treatment works, adding hundreds of millions of litres of drinking water into our network.

“So, whilst we want to reassure our customers that we’re doing everything we can to keep the water flowing, we can’t escape how hot and dry it is, and how little rainfall we’ve had this year.

"We experienced record levels of demand just last week and that’s why, as well as doing everything we can, we’re also asking our customers to be even more mindful of their water usage during this hot spell.”