More than 10 million Britons could face a hosepipe ban until the end of the year despite widespread forecasts of rain and thunderstorms.
Restrictions were imposed by Thames Water on its 10.1 million customers last month as a record-breaking summer of heatwaves led to drought declarations across England and Wales.
Rain finally arrived across much of Britain after months of warm dry conditions - but the country's largest water supplier said the measures might have to stay in place for several more months.
Experts have warned the recent rainfall is insufficient to undo the damage wrought by prolonged drought, with weeks of above-average precipitation needed to produce any meaningful recovery.
July's rainfall figures were stark - ranging from just 26 per cent of the usual average in the North West of England down to a mere one per cent in the South East.
Nevil Muncaster, strategic water resources director at Thames Water, told Times Radio: "I think realistically, it's going to be towards the end of the year before that comes off.
"That's something that we need to make sure we do just to protect the environment."
He noted that water consumption among customers tends to rise by around 25 per cent when temperatures exceed 25C.
During spells above 30C - which have occurred repeatedly this summer across five separate heatwaves - usage climbs by as much as 50 per cent.
Across England and Wales, upwards of 27 million people are now subject to hosepipe bans, preventing them from watering gardens, filling paddling pools or washing vehicles.
The entirety of Wales and 71 per cent of England has been classified as being in drought, with river levels dangerously depleted and temperatures peaking at 38C this summer.
Mr Muncaster claimed drier weather lies ahead despite the recent showers as he buttered up Britons for a hosepipe ban extension.
"The Environment Agency forecast is that it will be drier than normal for the next few months, but we'll wait and see," he said.
HOSEPIPE BANS - READ THE LATEST:
- Wessex Water imposes hosepipe ban on millions of Britons for first time in 50 years
- Water bills set to rise for MILLIONS despite hosepipe bans amid mass drought
- Britons using 12 legal loopholes to dodge hosepipe bans as millions told cut back usage immediately
But the Met Office says the UK is set to experience more storms and rain over autumn and winter thanks to an "unprecedented" El Nino event.
The event is set to create a heightened risk of drought in the tropics, southern Africa and northeast Australia, while northwest Europe - including the UK - is likely to experience wetter and stormier conditions by the end of the year.
Thames Water, meanwhile, loses an average of 569 million litres of water every day through leaks.
Southern England received its first significant downpours yesterday following two months without rain, though forecasters stressed this would not signal an end to drought conditions.
London Heathrow Airport and Odiham in Hampshire both experienced their first rainfall in 56 days, while Preston in Dorset went 53 days before seeing a drop.
Wildfires have ravaged parts of the country throughout the hot, arid summer, with a blaze in Stourbridge in the West Midlands destroying 19 homes.
England and Wales have recorded 1,132 wildfires so far in 2026, according to the National Fire Chiefs Council - a record for the January-to-August period.
Millions received mobile phone alerts last Friday warning of a "very high risk of wildfires nationally," and several fire services have urged the public to reserve 999 calls for genuine emergencies.
One of the most significant blazes broke out near Aviemore in the Cairngorms on July 15, with crews only completing their work to bring it under control this week, nearly five weeks later.
Our Standards: The GB News Editorial Charter
