Temporary hosepipe ban
Last updated: Friday 21 August 2026
A hosepipe ban remains in place for customers supplied by Thames Water.
The restrictions help protect water supplies, rivers and reservoirs during this exceptionally dry period. While recent rainfall is welcome, sustained rainfall is still needed before restrictions can be lifted.
Reducing water use today will help protect water supplies for people, communities and the environment.
Quick links
Hosepipe ban at a glance
- Who is affected? Customers supplied by Thames Water
- Are there exemptions? Some customers, activities and businesses are exempt. View exemptions
- What's restricted? Using hosepipes, sprinklers and pressure washers for non-essential activities
- When will the restrictions end? We'll lift them as soon as conditions allow
What can and can't I do?
We go through what you can and can't do along with how to check if you're exempt.
Not allowed
You must not use a hosepipe, sprinkler or pressure washer to:
- Water gardens, lawns or allotments
- Fill paddling pools, swimming pools or hot tubs
- Clean vehicles, patios, driveways, paths, walls, windows or outdoor surfaces
Still allowed
During the hosepipe ban, you can:
- Water plants with a watering can
- Use stored rainwater from a water butt
- Wash your car using a bucket
- Reuse household water on plants
- Reduce water use by following our water-saving tips
- Check your water usage and potential savings
Check if you're exempt
Exemptions may apply for:
- Thames Water wastewater-only customers
- Health and safety
- Animal welfare
- Food production
- Some business activities
- Disability or medical needs
How customers are helping save water
Thank you to everyone who is using water wisely and following the restrictions. Since the hosepipe ban was introduced:
- Household water demand in London has fallen by around 3%
- Water use across the Thames Valley and Home Counties has fallen by more than 6%
- Millions of litres of water are being saved every day
These savings are helping reduce pressure on water resources and protect supplies for customers and the environment.
What we're doing to protect water supplies
Reducing leakage
We know it can be frustrating to see leaks while we're asking customers to save water. That's why reducing leakage remains one of our top priorities.
The exceptionally dry weather is causing more leaks and bursts than usual, and we're currently repairing more than 1,000 leaks each week, around 20% more than normal.
To find and fix leaks faster, we use:
- More than 75,000 acoustic sensors
- Satellite technology and AI
- The industry's largest leakage detection field force
We've also increased our frontline leakage teams by 18% compared with last year. Since 2019/20, leakage across our network has reduced by more than 15%.
Investing in the water network
Replacing ageing pipes delivers the biggest long-term reduction in leakage.
We're carrying out the biggest upgrade to our network in 150 years and have:
- Replaced more than 100km of water mains since spring 2025
- Reduced leakage by more than 15% since 2019/20
- Replaced 32% more water mains last year than the year before
Over the next five years, we'll invest £20 billion to improve resilience and reduce leakage further.
When will the hosepipe ban end?
We'll continue to monitor river levels, groundwater and reservoir storage across the region. The restrictions will be lifted as soon as conditions allow, and this page will be updated whenever there is a change.
Thank you for helping protect water supplies for customers, communities and the environment.
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.