Last Updated on 7 hours ago by TodayWhy Editorial
| Updated August 26, 2026: At least ten water companies now have active hosepipe bans, and roughly 29 million people across England currently have some form of restriction on their water use, according to the Environment Agency’s most recent weekly drought report. Bristol Water is the newest, starting August 27. Full list below. |
Not every UK hosepipe ban makes national news, and not every ban covers the same area, the same dates, or the same rules. Bans are declared by individual water companies under drought powers, not by the government or local councils, which is why one town can be banned from using a hosepipe while the next town over, served by a different supplier, faces no restriction at all. This UK hosepipe ban tracker covers every active 2026 restriction in one place.
Which UK Water Companies Have a Hosepipe Ban Right Now?
As of the Environment Agency’s latest weekly report and the most recent company announcements, this UK hosepipe ban tracker shows the following suppliers have a formal Temporary Use Ban (TUB) under Section 76 of the Water Industry Act 1991 in force or about to start:
- Affinity Water — its central region since mid-July, expanded to cover its east region too from August 17 (Bedfordshire, Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Hertfordshire, Surrey, and parts of London and Essex).
- Anglian Water — its first ban since 2012, covering its whole company area except Hartlepool.
- Cambridge Water — company-wide, in place since mid-July.
- Essex and Suffolk Water — a company-wide TUB, separate from and in addition to Anglian Water’s ban in the same broader region.
- Southern Water — Hampshire and the Isle of Wight only. Does not apply to Sussex.
- South East Water — company-wide, having started in Kent alone before expanding to its full supply area.
- South West Water — its whole supply area, explicitly excluding Bristol (served separately by Bristol Water) and Bournemouth.
- Thames Water — company-wide across London, the Thames Valley, and the Home Counties, roughly 10.1 million customers.
- Wessex Water — a company-wide ban implemented August 18, one of the most recent additions to the list.
- Bristol Water — its first ban since 1975, affecting more than 1.2 million customers, starting August 27.
There is no Yorkshire Water hosepipe ban in 2026, and Welsh Water’s earlier, narrower restriction in parts of west Wales is not listed among the Environment Agency’s currently active company-wide bans. All other major English suppliers, including United Utilities, Northumbrian Water, Severn Trent, and South Staffordshire Water, remain at business-as-usual status rather than a formal ban, though several are monitoring conditions closely.
Why Are So Many Companies Banning Hosepipes at Once?
Every company on this list points to the same underlying cause: a dry spring followed by a hot summer that pushed water demand well above normal at exactly the moment reservoirs and rivers were already running low. As of the Environment Agency’s most recent weekly report, 71% of England by land area is officially classed as in drought, reservoir storage nationally stood at 62.6% (16.3% below average for the time of year), and seven major reservoirs were classed as exceptionally low. The agency’s National Drought Group now meets weekly rather than monthly, reflecting how fast the situation has escalated since June.
What varies is timing and severity. Anglian Water’s ban was its first since 2012, a 14-year gap that reflects how unusual this summer’s conditions have been in the east of England. Bristol Water’s is rarer still, its first since 1975, and came only a month after the company said publicly it had no plans for one at all — a sign of how quickly a regional drought order can force a reversal. Wessex Water’s company-wide ban, only implemented on August 18, shows the list is still growing even this late in the summer.
Why Does the Ban Depend on My Water Company, Not My Town?
England’s water industry is organized around historic supply infrastructure, not administrative boundaries. Some postcode areas are genuinely split between two companies, meaning neighbors on the same street can be under different rules depending on which pipes physically supply their property. Your water bill, not your address, is the definitive way to confirm your supplier.
This also explains why a ban can apply to only part of a company’s territory. Southern Water’s restriction covers Hampshire and the Isle of Wight but not Sussex; South East Water’s ban started in Kent alone before expanding to its wider area weeks later. Reading a headline about “a hosepipe ban” without checking the specific company and region can easily leave you either following rules that don’t apply to you, or missing ones that do.
What Do Hosepipe Bans Actually Restrict?
Despite covering different regions, the bans are remarkably similar in substance, since they’re all issued under the same section of the same law. A Temporary Use Ban generally prohibits using a hosepipe, sprinkler, irrigation system, or pressure washer connected to the mains supply for non-essential purposes: watering gardens, washing cars, filling paddling pools or hot tubs, and cleaning patios, driveways, or the exterior of a home.
Watering by hand with a watering can or bucket is always allowed, and water drawn from a butt or other recycled, non-mains source is unaffected everywhere, since the restriction only applies to the mains supply itself. Breaching a ban can bring a fine of up to £1,000, though companies typically issue a warning before pursuing formal enforcement.
Am I Exempt?
Every company grants exemptions, but the exact list differs supplier by supplier, so it’s worth checking your own company’s published notice rather than assuming the same rules as a neighboring region. That said, a few exemptions come up almost everywhere:
- Customers on a Priority Services Register who cannot reasonably adjust due to a health condition or disability
- Blue Badge holders
- Water needed to protect human health and safety
- Water needed for animal welfare, including pets, livestock, and fish
- Food crops grown at home or on an allotment, where hand-watering isn’t practical
- Newly planted trees, hedges, or turf that can’t reasonably be hand-watered
Age alone is rarely listed as an automatic exemption anywhere, but a genuine mobility issue or health condition tied to your age typically qualifies you for the Priority Services Register, which does carry an exemption at most suppliers. Registering isn’t automatic just because you think you qualify — you generally need to contact your company directly and, in some cases, get written confirmation.
How Long Will These Bans Last?
None of the nine active bans currently has a fixed end date. Each will remain in force until the company judges that reservoir and river levels have recovered enough to lift it safely, which depends on sustained rainfall rather than a single wet weekend. Some companies, like Yorkshire Water in past drought years, have warned restrictions could extend well into the following year if a dry autumn and winter follow a dry summer.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many water companies have a hosepipe ban in 2026?
At least ten as of late August 2026: Affinity Water, Anglian Water, Cambridge Water, Essex and Suffolk Water, Southern Water, South East Water, South West Water, Thames Water, Wessex Water, and Bristol Water.
How do I know if my area has a hosepipe ban?
Check which water company supplies your address on your water bill, then check that specific company’s official notice. Bans follow the supplier, not your postcode or council area.
Is there a hosepipe ban where I live if my neighbor has one?
Not necessarily. Some postcode areas are split between two suppliers, and a ban applies only to the company that declared it, not automatically to a neighboring region served by a different company.
What is the maximum fine for breaking a hosepipe ban?
Up to £1,000 per offense, under Section 76 of the Water Industry Act 1991, though companies typically issue a warning first.
Is Yorkshire Water restricting hosepipes in 2026?
No. As of late August 2026, Yorkshire Water is not among the companies with an active ban.
Are all hosepipe ban rules the same?
The core restrictions are similar across companies since they’re issued under the same law, but exemptions, start dates, and covered areas vary. Always check your specific supplier’s published notice.
Can I still use a water butt during a hosepipe ban?
Yes. Bans only restrict water drawn from the mains supply. Water collected in a butt or from another recycled source is unrestricted everywhere.