Millions of people across southern England are subject to hosepipe bans after prolonged periods of extreme heat and reduced rainfall. On Tuesday, Thames Water, Britain’s biggest water company, announced a ban starting on Thursday. Here, the Guardian answers questions about what the restriction means for you.
How do water companies decide to implement a ban?
Hosepipe bans are intended to preserve water resources when they are running low. Water companies decide to implement hosepipe bans when water in reservoirs and rivers falls below a particular level.
Explaining its issuing of a hosepipe ban last week, Anglian Water said: “River levels across much of our region are currently below normal, with some rivers at notably or exceptionally low levels. Reservoir storage levels are also lower than expected for this time of year.”
Thames Water said on Tuesday that use was 10% above normal in the Thames Valley and the home counties, as well as 7% above normal in London. Other water companies have reported higher than average use during the record heatwaves.
Which parts of the country are subject to hosepipe bans?
More than 20m households are now facing hosepipe bans, covering large parts of south and south-east England, and parts of Wales. Affinity Water, Anglian Water, Cambridge Water, South East Water, Southern Water, Thames Water and Wales Water have all imposed or announced bans.
South East Water has announced it will extend its hosepipe ban from this weekend to include all of its 2.4 million customers. While the ban announced by Thames Water does not come into effect until Thursday, the water company has asked customers to follow the restriction immediately.
What is included in the ban?
The legal basis of hosepipe bans is the Flood and Water Management Act 2010. It gives water companies the legal authority to impose them on domestic and non-commercial customers during water shortages.
A hosepipe ban stops customers using a hosepipe for non-essential activities, for example: watering gardens, including using a sprinkler system; filling paddling pools, hot tubs, swimming pools, ponds or fountains; or washing cars, patios or windows.
What can I use to water my garden instead?
You can still fill a watering can from a tap and use that to water your plants. You can use recycled water from your bath or your washing-up, and of course, you can use rainwater collected from a water butt.
What are the consequences of breaching a ban and are there any exceptions?
Breaching a hosepipe ban is a criminal offence and can lead to a fine of up to £1,000. But there are exemptions. If you have just laid fresh turf in your garden you can use your hose to water it for up to 28 days. You may also use a hose to water trees, hedges and saplings planted in the previous planting season, as well as plants for up to 14 days after buying them. Other exemptions relate to animal welfare, health and safety, and religious practices.
Are we likely to see drought conditions this summer?
Potentially. Although no areas are in drought now, all the ingredients are there.
On Tuesday, the Environment Agency said eight areas across England are in prolonged dry weather, the stage before drought.
The Met Office has confirmed that June 2026 was the hottest on record for England. The highest temperature of the month was 37.7C, set in Lingwood, Norfolk, on 26 June. And hot weather has continued into July, with the country beating the 1976 record for days above 30C. Half of the summer is yet to come.
Rain has been sparse, with just 3% of the long-term average (LTA) falling over England in July, ranging from 0% of the LTA in east and south-east England to 9% in the north-west. Last summer drought was declared across much of England, Wales and eastern Scotland.
Are there alternatives to a hosepipe ban?
Last month the government and water companies announced a public campaign to encourage the public to reduce water use. The £75m publicity drive, called Let’s Save Water, sets a target for everyone to cut their use by 28 litres – or two large buckets – a day. With a daily use of about 140 litres, Britons have among the highest water use in Europe.
However, critics of the water industry say much of the fault lies with a lack of investment in the country’s water resource and networks. Research by Greenpeace last week found that pipes in England and Wales leaked five times more water than would be saved by a nationwide hosepipe ban.
