Temporary hosepipe ban
Last updated: Friday 24 July
A temporary hosepipe ban has been announced for customers who receive their water supply from Thames Water. Check online to find out who supplies your water if you're not sure.
Some customers, activities and businesses may be exempt from the hosepipe ban.
Hosepipe ban quick summary
- Applies to: Customers whose water is supplied by Thames Water. Our 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 exemptions
- Duration: We'll continue to monitor water levels and conditions across the region. Restrictions will be lifted as soon as conditions allow
- Frequently asked questions: View our hosepipe ban FAQs
- Get in touch: Contact us about the temporary hosepipe ban
Why the hosepipe ban is needed
Introducing a hosepipe ban is not a step we take lightly. We've announced 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
We've been working around the clock to maintain water supplies, but we now need everyone's help to reduce non-essential water use.
What you shouldn't do
During the hosepipe ban, please do not do any of the following tasks.
- Do not use a hosepipe or sprinkler to water your garden, lawn, or allotments
- Do not fill a paddling pool, swimming pool, or hot tub with a hosepipe
- Do not use a jet washer or hose to 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 our 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
- customers who cannot reasonably adjust their water use because of a disability or medical condition
How we're protecting water supplies
While customers are helping reduce demand, we're 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 our network in 150 years
- investing £20 billion over the next five years on our network
- replacing more water mains so our network is more resilient during extreme weather
- monitoring the network 24/7
What happens next
We'll continue to monitor water levels and conditions across the region. This page will be updated whenever restrictions change. We'll lift the hosepipe ban as soon as conditions allow.
Thank you to everyone who has already reduced their water use. Your support is helping protect water supplies for communities and the environment during this period of dry hot weather.
Frequently asked questions
We've gathered a list of the most frequently asked questions for our hosepipe ban.
Get in touch
Contact us with your comments or representations using our online form.
Help protect water
Legal notice
You can view our legal notice regarding the hosepipe ban.