In some areas of Spain, temperatures have already approached +40 degrees.
The United Kingdom is facing the consequences of record heat and a dry spring. Due to abnormally high temperatures, thousands of residents in the southeast of England have been left without water supply or are experiencing critically low pressure in the network.
According to Reuters, the coastal town of Whitstable in Kent has been hit hardest, with around 8,000 people temporarily without water.
Overall, water supply issues have affected more than 20,000 consumers. Due to water interruptions, some cafes, restaurants, and shops were forced to temporarily close during the school holidays and the peak tourist season. Locals report that they stood in line for hours for:
-bottled water;
-emergency supplies;
-technical water.
On social media, Britons have been posting photos of empty shelves in stores and long queues at water distribution points.
South East Water, which supplies water to about 2.3 million residents, stated that the cause of the interruptions was a sharp spike in consumption due to the heat. According to the company, the system supplied 628 million liters of water in just one day. This is about 100 million liters more than the average seasonal figure.
The company explained that the networks simply could not withstand such a load. Britons Blame Water Companies However, locals and entrepreneurs believe that the problem is not only due to the weather. In recent years, private water supply companies in Britain have faced increasing criticism for:
-outdated infrastructure;
-insufficient investment;
-frequent water leaks;
-network failures.
Many Britons are convinced that companies have been saving on system upgrades for years, leaving the country unprepared even for a few days of extreme heat.
What is known about the abnormal heat in Britain?
Earlier, media reported that the country recorded the hottest May day in history. In some regions, temperatures exceeded +34 degrees. For the UK, where the climate is traditionally much cooler, such figures are considered almost extreme.
At the same time, abnormal heat is not only observed in the UK. At the end of May, record temperatures are being recorded in:
-France;
-Spain;
-Germany;
-other Western European countries.
In some areas of Spain, temperatures have already approached +40 degrees, while in France, meteorologists report hundreds of new temperature records. Climatologists note that early heatwaves in Europe are becoming increasingly frequent due to global climate change.
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