Hosepipe Ban For Thames Water Announces

Thames Water, Britain’s largest water supplier, has today announced a temporary hosepipe ban (also known as a Temporary Use Ban or TUB) that will affect approximately 10.1 million customers across London and the Thames Valley region.

The restrictions come into force at 00:01 on Thursday, 23 July 2026. Customers are being urged to begin reducing non-essential water use immediately to help protect supplies.

Why Now?

Thames Water cited a combination of factors:

• An exceptionally warm and dry spring and summer

• Very low rainfall levels

• Higher-than-normal demand, with spikes during recent heatwaves adding tens of millions of extra litres of daily usage

• Limited replenishment of reservoirs and groundwater sources

The company stressed that the ban is necessary to safeguard essential water supplies for households and to protect rivers and the environment.

What Is Banned?

Under the hosepipe ban, customers must not use hosepipes or sprinklers for:

• Watering gardens, lawns, or allotments

• Washing cars, caravans, or boats (except for safety reasons)

• Filling or topping up paddling pools, swimming pools, or ornamental ponds

• Cleaning patios, driveways, or external building surfaces

• Other non-essential outdoor uses

Allowed alternatives: Watering cans and buckets are still permitted for garden watering.

Exemptions exist for health and safety reasons, animal welfare, and certain commercial or agricultural uses.

Full details and the legal notice will be available on Thames Water’s website from 22 July.

Wastewater-only customers are not affected by the ban.

Broader Context

Thames Water’s move brings the total number of people under hosepipe-style restrictions in England and Wales close to 23 million this week, as several water companies respond to drought risks. Parts of the country are approaching official drought status.

Environmental groups and opposition politicians have renewed calls for urgent investment in infrastructure, leak reduction, and better long-term water management, especially with growing demand from housing, industry, and data centres.

What You Can Do to Help

Thames Water is encouraging simple steps:

• Take shorter showers

• Only run washing machines and dishwashers when full

• Fix dripping taps

• Reuse greywater where safe

• Report leaks promptly

The ban will remain in place until water levels recover sufficiently. The company will continue to monitor conditions and provide regular updates.

For the latest information and postcode checker, visit: Thames Water Hosepipe Ban page

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This situation is developing. Customers should check official sources for the most accurate advice for their area.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​