Is there a hosepipe ban in my area? What you need to know

More than five million households are now living under hosepipe bans, as the UK battles its third heatwave of 2026.

Anglian Water, external, Cambridge Water, external, South East Water, external, Southern Water, external and Affinity Water, external have brought in the restrictions due to a lack of rain and increased demand for water.

It comes amid a record-breaking spring and summer.

The UK has so far this year recorded eight days of temperatures exceeding 34C, breaking the previous record of seven days set in 1976 and 2020.

March, April and May - the three months which make up meteorological spring - also ranked within the UK's top 10 warmest since records began in 1884.

Both England and Wales experienced their warmest spring on record.

A hosepipe ban, also known as a Temporary Use Ban, is a restriction on using hosepipes. They are imposed by water companies to try and save water during periods of high demand or low supply.

People living in areas where there is a ban are not allowed to use one to:

This is to ensure enough water is saved for drinking, those who are vulnerable and for essential use.

Anyone breaking these rules could be fined up to £1,000.

Anglian Water, external has announced that a hosepipe ban will be enforced from 01:01 BST on 11 July. However, they have asked customers to start following the restrictions with immediate effect to help protect water supplies and the environment.

Cambridge Water, external brought in a ban on 9 July following one of the driest springs in recent years and exceptionally warm weather. The restrictions will be enforceable from 01:00 BST on 17 July.

A hosepipe ban is in effect by Southern Water, external for Hampshire and the Isle of Wight, with the company citing that "river levels are 25% lower than expected for this time of year".

A ban for the region of Kent has been enforceable by South East Water, external since 3 July, due to "sustained high temperatures and near record levels of demand for treated drinking water".

Affinity Water, external is introducing a hosepipe ban after it said demand for water rose by 20% in recent weeks. The restrictions will apply from 00:01 BST on 17 July.

There are quite a few exemptions to hosepipe bans, with exact details available on each water company's website.

They generally include:

A full list of exemptions can be found on the websites of each individual water company.

In the UK, hosepipe bans are enforced by water companies.

They have the authority to impose fines of up to £1,000 on those who violate the ban under the Water Industry Act, external.

Cambridge Water said this was the first time in 30 years the company has had to implement a hosepipe ban.

Meanwhile, Anglian water has not imposed a a ban since 2012.

You can still water your plants using a watering can or bucket.

Even during a ban, the use of a hosepipe for some gardening activities is still allowed. Your water company's website will give exact details of what is permitted - likely to include the watering of crops, recently planted trees and shrubs and newly laid lawns.

Irrigation systems that involve drip or trickle irrigation only, which are fitted with a pressure reducing valve, a timer and are not handheld, are also allowed.

You can use a hose to water your garden if it uses water that is not sourced from the mains. This includes grey water (water that is not pure, like wastewater from washing clothes), rainwater from a water butt or water from a private borehole.

Find more tips on how to water your garden during a hosepipe ban here., external

While hosepipe bans are enacted at the discretion of water companies, the forecast through much of July calls for continued hot and dry conditions.

Throughout the next three to four weeks, temperatures are most likely to stay above average with some hot days expected, especially in central, southern and eastern regions.

There will be a lot of dry weather, with occasional rain mostly affecting northern areas.

Looking further ahead, according to the Met Office's three-month outlook, near-average rainfall is expected for July, August and September though there may be large regional variations.

None of the water companies with hosepipe bans in place have specified exactly when restrictions will be lifted.

Cambridge Water has said the restrictions will need to be in place "until we receive prolonged significant rainfall, and our groundwater levels return to a situation much closer to normal." They added that the restrictions will not remain in place longer than is "absolutely necessary".

In a similar vein, South East Water has said the ban will likely continue until they are confident that water demand has reduced to "manageable levels" and there is no further risk of supply interruptions.

Southern Water has said it will end restrictions when there's enough water in its reservoirs, rivers and underground aquifers to meet demand.

This was echoed by Anglian Water which said it will lift the restrictions as soon as conditions allow and Affinity Water who said they need to be able to "balance water sustainably across the network."