21st July 2026
A temporary hosepipe ban has been announced for customers who receive their water supply from Thames Water. If you're not sure whether Thames Water supplies your water, you can check online to find out who supplies your water.
The hosepipe ban does not apply to customers who only receive wastewater services from Thames Water. However, your water supplier may have its own restrictions in place.
Thames Water haveannounced a ban because of:
- prolonged dry weather and recent heatwaves
- very low rainfall levels
- higher than normal water demand
- forecasts for continued hot, dry weather
Hosepipe ban quick summary
- Applies to: Customers whose water is supplied by Thames Water. Wastewater-only customers are not affected
- Restrictions: Hosepipes, sprinklers, and pressure washers
- You can still: Use watering cans, buckets, and water butts
- Exemptions: Some customers, activities, and businesses are exempt. View hosepipe ban FAQs
- Duration: Thames Water continue to monitor water levels and conditions across the region. Restrictions will be lifted as soon as conditions allow
- Frequently asked questions: View hosepipe ban FAQs
What you shouldn't do
Do not use a hosepipe or pressure washer to do any of the following:
- do not water your garden, lawn, or allotments
- do not fill a paddling pool, swimming pool, or hot tub
- do not use a sprinkler or a jet washer
- do not clean your vehicle, patios, paths, driveways, walls, windows, or any outdoor areas
What you can do
During the hosepipe ban, you can still:
- help by reducing your water usage by following water saving tips. You can earn rewards by reducing your water usage
- check your water usage and how much you can save
- keep plants and gardens watered with a watering can
- make use of water collected in a water butt
- wash your car using a bucket
- collect and reuse water from your home, such as water left over from cooking vegetables or rinsing fruit and vegetables, to water plants
Check if you're exempt
Some customers, activities and businesses may be exempt from the hosepipe ban, including:
- Thames Water wastewater only customers
- health and safety needs
- animal welfare, including pets, livestock, and fish
- some business services and activities
- watering food crops and certain newly planted trees
- Priority Services customers who cannot reasonably adjust their water use because of a disability or medical condition
How Thames Water are protecting water supplies
While customers are helping reduce demand, Thames Water are taking action every day to protect supplies across the region by:
- moving water around the network to where it's needed most
- repairing more than 750 leaks every week
- delivering the biggest upgrade to the network in 150 years
- investing £20 billion over the next five years on their network
- replacing more water mains so their network is more resilient during extreme weather
- monitoring the network 24/7
What happens next
Thames Water continue to monitor water levels and conditions across the region.
Find out more here.
