Yorkshire Water urges conservation amid fifth summer heatwave

Yorkshire Water is urging residents to use water conservatively as the United Kingdom experiences its fifth heatwave of the summer. With regional temperatures expected to exceed 30 degrees Celsius, the utility provider is preparing for a significant surge in demand.

During previous heatwaves this summer, daily water usage reached 1.55 billion litres, which is an increase of over 220 million litres above average demand. The region has entered a status of prolonged dry weather, a stage preceding drought, due to sustained low rainfall and high temperatures.

While current reservoir stocks sit at 58%—higher than the 42.1% recorded at this time in 2025—they remain significantly below the seasonal average of 73.9%. To manage the pressure on the network, Yorkshire Water is recommending small conservation efforts, such as using watering cans instead of hosepipes and running appliances only when full.