Your support helps us to tell the story
Read more
Support Now
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.
Read more
Tens of thousands of people have been warned to restrict their water use and only turn on the taps when essential, just days before the UK is set to be gripped by its fourth heatwave.
South East Water (SEW) has told customers in Sussex that water reservoirs in the area are “falling quicker and earlier than usual”.
People in the area have been asked to only use water for essential use, such as for drinking, washing and cooking.
SEW already has a hosepipe ban in place in Sussex and Kent, but has warned it is monitoring water supplies in parts of Surrey, Hampshire and Berkshire to see if further restrictions are needed.
More than 8.5 million UK households are currently under hosepipe bans, with Southern Water, Thames Water and Yorkshire Water also bringing in restrictions following a spell of warm weather in July.
RECOMMENDED
Pioneering new drug could replace aggressive cancer therapies
Undo
Major retail chain to be put into an employee ownership trust
Undo
Doctors Shocked: This Common Spice Burns Fat While You SleepYour Health |
Undo
Substance Found in Pink Salt has Bariatric Effects on Women Over 40Weight Loss News |
Undo
Powered by TaboolaPowered by Taboola
The latest warning comes as a yellow heat health alert has been issued for large parts of the UK next week, with temperatures set to soar past 30C in some areas.
open image in gallery
Teenagers cool off by leaping from the Wey footbridge into the River Wey, near Guildford(AFP/Getty)
The UK Health Security Agency heat warning, cautioning “significant impacts” across health and social care services, is in place from 12pm on Monday until 6pm on Wednesday. The alert covers Yorkshire and the Humber, the East Midlands, the East of England, the South East and the South West.
Temperatures are set to hit 27C in parts of southern England over the weekend, and then rise to over 30C in parts of central, southern and eastern England on Monday and Tuesday.
Ahead of the latest heatwave, a spokesperson for South East Water warned: “Our surface water reservoirs, Ardingly and Arlington, are an important source of water and are falling quicker and earlier than usual.
“Most of the water in them is taken from the nearby rivers, whose flow is much lower than normal because of multiple heatwaves.
“The reservoirs have not been this low at this time of year since the drought of 2022 and, with more warm weather due very soon, we’re asking people to protect resources and keep water use around the home to essential purposes only – namely drinking, washing and cooking.”
open image in gallery
People walk through dried grass in London’s Greenwich Park on 15 July(Getty)
Steven Keates at the Met Office said: “We’re confident that temperatures will increase markedly by the start of next week, reaching the low 30s Celsius in parts of England on Monday and perhaps the mid-30s in a few places on Tuesday.
“However, the length of this warm spell is still uncertain, and it is possible that high temperatures could persist further into next week, particularly in the south”.
The fourth heatwave this year follows one in June and two in July. Authorities register a heatwave when a location records a period of at least three consecutive days with daily maximum temperatures meeting or exceeding the heatwave temperature threshold.
This threshold varies depending on the area, from 25C in Scotland to 28C in London.