As heatwaves sweep across the UK, water firms are proposing new summer surge pricing to curb excessive household use. Families using paddling pools and outdoor hosepipes are being flagged as major contributors to falling water pressure and depleted reservoir levels.
The proposal, now being discussed with the Labour government, signals a shift towards demand-based pricing to address an increasingly stressed water system. Experts say the move reflects deeper structural issues within the UK’s water infrastructure and rising pressure on supply during dry spells.
Growing Demand, Falling Supply: A Strained Infrastructure
The UK’s water network is under increasing pressure due to prolonged dry weather and high domestic consumption.
According to Thames Water, any household using more than 685 litres per day could soon face double the standard rate, in an attempt to discourage non-essential usage. This comes as multiple regions experience critically low reservoir levels, following an unseasonably dry spring.
Yorkshire Water, in announcing a recent hosepipe ban, stated:
“We are asking customers to put down their hosepipes, so we can let our reservoirs recover. Our reservoir levels haven’t actually increased since the last week of January.”
The bans are part of wider efforts to reduce daily usage, with estimates suggesting hosepipe restrictions can reduce consumption of the resource by 3% to 7%, according to Dr Jess Neumann, hydrology expert at the University of Reading.
Industry body Water UK has defended the possibility of restrictions and pricing changes, stating that when government-mandated trigger levels are reached, companies must act swiftly to manage resources.
Despite efforts to move the supply within networks and step up leak detection, officials admit these measures are not always enough to prevent temporary use bans.
Criticism Over Infrastructure Neglect and Corporate Priorities
Consumer advocates and environmental campaigners have criticised the proposed pricing model, citing long-standing neglect of the supply infrastructure. Feargal Sharkey, a prominent campaigner, argues that companies have “woefully failed” to upgrade old pipes or build new ones, pointing instead to years of underinvestment despite rising profits.
“Rather than moan about paddling pools and hike prices in the summer, water bosses need to get their house in order,” Sharkey said, referencing the millions of litres lost daily to leaks across the system.
The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) acknowledged the infrastructure concerns, stating that “rapid population growth, crumbling infrastructure and a warming climate” are all contributing factors.
The government recently announced £104 billion in private sector investment to build nine new reservoirs and modernise the water grid.
While the aim is long-term resilience, experts like Dr Jonathan Paul of Royal Holloway, University of London stress that local water restrictions will remain necessary to stabilise supplies in the short term. He links current reservoir challenges directly to rainfall variability, emphasising the importance of localised conservation efforts during dry periods.
