England Hosepipe Bans Still Affect 30 Million, Report Says

Rare Content Desk 2026-10-16 09:17 2 min read

Panoramic view of golden agricultural fields and woodland in the English countryside.

England’s latest drought report says temporary water-use bans were unchanged in the week to 24 September 2026, affecting around 30 million people. Check your water supplier’s current notice before changing how you use water: restrictions may cover only part of a supplier’s area, and the rules depend on the notice in force for your address.

What the Environment Agency reported on 25 September

The Environment Agency’s weekly report says ten of its areas remained in drought status. It also records 14 reservoirs or reservoir groups below half full. The report’s figures describe 18–24 September; they do not confirm whether a ban applies to a particular home today.

The report lists water companies with temporary-use bans in all or part of their supply areas, including Thames Water, Anglian Water and South East Water. Because a company’s area can be only partly affected, its name alone does not establish that a household is covered.

Check your supplier’s current hosepipe ban rules

Start with the water supplier named on your bill. Look for its current temporary-use ban notice or restrictions page, then check the affected locations and the activities covered. If the notice is unclear, contact the supplier and give your postcode.

England Hosepipe Bans Still Affect 30 Million, Report Says

A temporary-use ban can restrict specified uses of a hosepipe, such as watering a garden or washing a vehicle. The exact permitted and prohibited activities vary by notice, so read the supplier’s wording rather than relying on a general summary or an older announcement.

Drought status and a hosepipe ban are different

An Environment Agency drought designation describes conditions across an agency area. A supplier’s temporary-use ban is a separate restriction issued for its customers in all or part of its supply area. Drought status does not, by itself, tell you whether your address is under a ban.

The practical check is therefore local: use the supplier’s latest notice to establish whether your address is included and which uses it restricts. The Environment Agency report provides a dated national snapshot, while the supplier’s current notice is the relevant place to verify household rules.

Source: Environment Agency

Context & actions About this article

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The figures cover 18–24 September 2026; check your supplier’s current notice for restrictions at your address.

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