Woman admits breaking hosepipe ban to fill paddling pools but 'couldn't care less'

Woman admits breaking hosepipe ban to fill paddling pools but 'couldn't care less' The fifth heatwave of the year is set to hit England this week, with temperatures expected to reach as high as 36C on Thursday, as 23 million people face heatwave water restrictions Britain is bracing for its fifth heatwave of the year this week, with temperatures forecast to soar as high as 36C on Thursday. Most of the country is now under drought conditions, affecting more than 45 million people. Hosepipe bans have been brought into effect across large swathes of England and Wales due to rivers and reservoirs running critically low. As the name suggests, it means anyone under the restrictions are not allowed to use their hosepipes to water the garden, fill paddling pools, wash the car or more. If they do, they can face a £1,000 fine (unless they are exempt). However, despite the very clear impact the drought is having on the country's water supplies, not everyone is following the guidelines. Carla, from Barking in Essex, told The i Paper: "The water companies are literally pumping s**t into our rivers and seas constantly and taking no responsibility for it. "They take months to fix leaks in the pipes down our road, which wastes a lot of water, and meanwhile the boss of Thames Water gets a £1m salary, and the other bosses get a fortune too." In July, Essex and Suffolk Water announced a ban to protect water supplies following a near-rainless month in East Anglia. It came into effect immediately, but was enforced from August 3. Meanwhile, Carla had also been using the hose to water the garden and fill up paddling pools for her grandchildren. Carla further hit out at water firms, branding the ban an "absolute joke" and claiming it was left up to "ordinary people" to "sort" out the problem. Water director Kieran Ingram said: "The Environment Agency has placed the region into drought because of the prolonged lack of rainfall, low river flows and dry soils, all of which are putting increasing pressure on the environment across East Anglia. "At times like this, it's important that we all play our part. We want to thank the many customers who have already voluntarily stopped using their hosepipes, and we're now asking everyone else to join them by following these temporary restrictions. "This isn't a decision we've taken lightly, but it's the right thing to do. By reducing non-essential water use, we're helping to protect our precious rivers and wildlife while also safeguarding water supplies, so they remain available for everyone as the hot, dry weather continues."