British Labour MP and former Under-Secretary of State for Water and Flooding
South East Water faces ongoing outages amid a heatwave, with thousands without water across Kent and Sussex. Regulators warn of pressure on resilience and investment plans, while councils pledge new scrutiny and partnerships to improve reliability. Pennon and Ofwat are central to the evolving response.
Provisional temperatures have surpassed long-standing June records across England, with 35.8C in Wigonholt and 35.7C in Charlwood, amid a Met Office red heat warning. Forecasters say figures could climb further as a heat-dome over western Europe drives extreme heat, health warnings are in place, and schools and transport are disrupted.
July 2026 marks one of the driest Julys on record across the UK, with England and Wales declaring drought conditions. The Met Office notes unprecedented heat and low rainfall, affecting agriculture, water supplies, and daily life. Government and Environment Agency leaders say action is underway, including infrastructure investments and stricter water use rules.