Environment Secretary George Eustice has "strongly" urged water firms to introduce more hosepipe bans as temperatures are set to skyrocket this week.
It marks the first time a minister has intervened over drought fears, as August has been "unusually dry".
Southern Water has already imposed a hosepipe ban for Brits in Hampshire and on the Isle of Wight, South East Water will follow suit this Friday, with a ban in force for those in Kent and Sussex.