Britain’s only desalination plant still out of action as hosepipe ban fears return

It comes as water companies and the Government are bracing for another hot summer, with the Met Office currently predicting above-average temperatures and only near-average rainfall.

Mr Muncaster insisted that Thames Water would not need to resort to hosepipe bans again if there was a repeat of last year’s sweltering temperatures, based on current projections.

The company’s reservoirs in London and Oxfordshire are also near-full.

It comes as separately, people across England are refusing to pay their wastewater bills because of anger over sewage pollution, saying they should not pay for a service they do not receive.

Some have said they are prepared to go to court, but do not believe the water companies will take legal action.

Angler Matt Marlow, from Stockport, Greater Manchester. said he stopped paying his water bill entirely, to United Utilities, about six months ago, but is considering setting up a standing order of £1 “for their shareholders”.

Mr Marlow said United Utilities tried sending him £75 after he complained about sewage discharges, which he described as “hush money”.

United Utilities said the £75 compensation was not linked to his complaint but a delay in responding to him.

Customers of Wessex Water and Yorkshire Water have also said they are withholding payment of their wastewater bills while Julie Wassmer, a customer of Southern Water in Kent, has been refusing to pay since 2021.

South West Water said it does not comment on individual customers but that they are free to contact the company for discussion.

Yorkshire Water said it has no records of customers refusing to pay bills.

Pennon Group, which owns South West Water, said on Thursday it will invest £750 million over the next two years in building reservoirs, reducing storm overflows and increasing renewable energy use.

Several water company chief executives, including at South West Water, Yorkshire Water and Thames Water, have offered to give up their bonuses this year in response to public anger over sewage.