Skip to main content
On Air Now
Listen Now

1pm to 4pm

Listen Now

1pm to 4pm

Where are there hosepipe bans, as Thames Water becomes latest to announce restriction

Millions in UK now subject to restrictions on using hosepipes due to hot weather

Share

16 July  2026 The  dry parched grass on Wimbledon Common from the prolonged summer heatwave Amer Ghazzal/Alamy Live News
Parched grass on Wimbledon Common as Thames Water imposes a hosepipe ban. Picture: Alamy

By William Mata

Thames Water has become the latest supplier to announce a hosepipe ban in a move which will affect more than 10 million customers.

Listen to this article

Loading audio...

The UK's largest water supplier announced that restrictions will come in on Thursday, July 23, with London, Thames Valley and Home Counties households set to be affected.

Thames Water, which supplies 16 million in total, said the move was needed after an exceptionally dry spring and summer.

Nevil Muncaster, director of strategic water resources, said: "We would not be taking this step unless it was necessary to protect water supplies for everyone and the environment."

Here is how the situation is being felt across the UK.

Read also: When will it rain again in the UK?

Where is there a hosepipe ban?

Affinity Water

A ban has been in place since July 10 for customers in:

  • Bedfordshire,
  • Berkshire,
  • Buckinghamshire,
  • Hertfordshire,
  • Surrey,
  • Parts of London and Essex

Anglian Water

A ban on hosepipes came in on July 11 for all of its customers in the East of England.

Cambridge Water

Cambridgeshire has been subjected to a hosepipe ban since July 9.

Dwr Cymru

Since July 19, there has been a ban in:

  • Ceredigion,
  • Pembrokeshire,
  • Carmarthenshire

South East Water

Kent has had a ban since July 3.

A further ban will come in on July 25 for customers in:

  • Sussex,
  • Surrey,
  • Hampshire,
  • Berkshire

South West Water

There has been a ban in Mid Devon and Lyme Regis since July 14.

Southern Water

Hampshire and the Isle of Wight have had a ban since July 10.

Thames Water

London, the Home Counties, and Thames Valley will all be subject to the ban from July 23.

No other water companies have announced hosepipe bans. All information correct as of 3.20pm on Thursday, July 21.