Hosepipe bans became legally enforceable for Cambridge Water and Affinity Water customers from 17 July 2026, joining existing restrictions from South East Water in Kent and Anglian Water across the East of England. Together these cover millions of households. Breaking a ban is a criminal offence carrying a fine of up to £1,000.
TL;DR · LAST REVIEWED 17 July 2026
- Cambridge Water and Affinity Water hosepipe bans became legally enforceable from 17 July 2026, both companies' first restrictions in decades.
- South East Water (Kent) and Anglian Water (East of England, 9 counties) already had bans in force from 3 and 11 July.
- Together these four companies' restrictions affect many millions of households across a large part of England.
- A hosepipe ban stops mains-fed hosepipes and sprinklers; watering cans, buckets and stored rainwater remain unrestricted.
- Breaking a ban is a criminal offence under the Water Industry Act 1991, with fines of up to £1,000.
KEY FACTS
- Cambridge Water's hosepipe ban became enforceable at 1am on 17 July 2026, its first restriction since 1995, covering Cambridge and surrounding parts of Cambridgeshire and Bedfordshire.
- Affinity Water's ban became enforceable at 00:01 on 17 July 2026 under a statutory notice, covering parts of Hertfordshire, Bedfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Berkshire, Surrey, Essex and north and west London, affecting around 3.9 million people.
- South East Water introduced a ban in its Kent supply area from 3 July 2026, affecting around 850,000 customers; Sussex, Surrey and Berkshire are not included.
- Anglian Water introduced a region-wide ban from 11 July 2026 covering Lincolnshire, Suffolk, Essex, Buckinghamshire, Hertfordshire, Cambridgeshire, Northamptonshire, Bedfordshire and Norfolk (except Hartlepool), its first restriction in over a decade.
- Breaking a hosepipe ban is a criminal offence under the Water Industry Act 1991, with a maximum fine of £1,000 per breach.
- Companies typically exempt Blue Badge holders, Priority Services Register customers, and some WaterSure tariff customers, alongside commercial uses.
Water company restrictions can be introduced, extended or lifted at short notice depending on rainfall, and boundaries follow supply areas rather than county lines. Confirm current restrictions and your own water supplier directly with the company, since some other companies, including Southern Water in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight and South West Water in parts of Devon, have also introduced restrictions this summer and the picture continues to change.
What's changed today
Two more water companies' hosepipe bans became legally enforceable on 17 July 2026: Cambridge Water's restriction across Cambridgeshire and parts of Bedfordshire, and Affinity Water's restriction across parts of Hertfordshire, Bedfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Berkshire, Surrey, Essex and north and west London. Both bans were announced on 9 and 10 July respectively, with companies asking customers to follow the restrictions immediately even before the formal enforcement date.
These join existing restrictions already in force from South East Water in Kent, since 3 July 2026, and Anglian Water across nine counties in the East of England, since 11 July 2026. Together, the four companies' restrictions now cover a large part of England and many millions of households, following one of the driest and warmest starts to summer on record.
Which areas have a hosepipe ban
South East Water's ban applies to its Kent supply area only, affecting around 850,000 customers; it does not extend to the company's Sussex, Surrey or Berkshire supply areas. Anglian Water's ban covers its full supply area across the East of England, including Lincolnshire, Suffolk, Essex, Buckinghamshire, Hertfordshire, Cambridgeshire, Northamptonshire, Bedfordshire and Norfolk, with the exception of Hartlepool, and is the company's first restriction of this kind in more than a decade.
Cambridge Water's ban covers its supply area across Cambridge and surrounding parts of Cambridgeshire and Bedfordshire, the company's first restriction since 1995. Affinity Water's ban covers parts of Hertfordshire, Bedfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Berkshire, Surrey and Essex, along with parts of north and west London, affecting around 3.9 million people. Water supply boundaries follow historical infrastructure rather than county or postcode lines, so two neighbouring streets can have different suppliers; anyone unsure who supplies their water can check using their water company's own postcode checker or a bill.
What counts as a breach, and what's still allowed
A hosepipe ban restricts the use of a hosepipe or sprinkler connected to the mains water supply for activities including watering a garden, washing a car, cleaning patios or windows, and filling or maintaining swimming pools, paddling pools and ornamental ponds or fountains. The restriction applies to the hosepipe itself, not the underlying task: watering cans, buckets, and water collected in a butt or other non-mains source remain unrestricted.
Common exemptions include customers on a company's Priority Services Register, Blue Badge holders, and some medical or health-related uses, alongside commercial activities such as vehicle-washing businesses or agricultural irrigation, though the exact exemptions and any conditions attached to them vary by company. Newly laid turf can often be watered by hosepipe for a limited period, typically 28 days, subject to conditions. Anyone planning to rely on an exemption should check the specific conditions with their own water company rather than assume the same rules apply everywhere.
Why water companies are introducing bans
Each company has cited a combination of factors: record or near-record demand for water during repeated heatwaves, low river flows, and reduced groundwater and reservoir levels following a dry spring. South East Water said the Kent restriction was driven by pressure on its distribution network during peak demand rather than a reservoir shortage, while Anglian Water pointed to three successive heatwaves pushing water production up by around 30% above normal. Cambridge Water and Affinity Water both cited record demand and pressure on local chalk streams and groundwater sources.
A hosepipe ban, formally a Temporary Use Ban, is a decision made individually by each water company based on the conditions in its own supply area, rather than a national measure triggered by an official drought declaration. This is why restrictions can apply in one area while a neighbouring region, supplied by a different company, has none.
What happens if the rules are broken
Breaking a hosepipe ban is a criminal offence under the Water Industry Act 1991, carrying a fine of up to £1,000 per breach, enforced through the magistrates' courts. In practice, water companies say they typically warn customers first and reserve prosecution for serious or repeated breaches rather than a single instance.
Restrictions can be introduced, extended or lifted at short notice depending on rainfall and demand, and the picture across England continues to change week to week. Other companies, including Southern Water in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight and South West Water in parts of Devon, have also introduced restrictions at points this summer; anyone wanting to confirm whether a ban currently applies to their own address should check directly with their water supplier rather than rely on a single source, since restrictions can be lifted as quickly as they are introduced.
RELATED GUIDES
DISCLAIMER
This article is editorial information, not financial advice. Kael Tripton Ltd is not authorised or regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. Figures were correct at the last review date shown above; verify current rates and rules with the primary sources listed below before acting.
Frequently asked questions
Is there a hosepipe ban where I live?
It depends on your water supplier, not your county. South East Water (Kent), Anglian Water (East of England), Cambridge Water (Cambridgeshire and parts of Bedfordshire) and Affinity Water (parts of Hertfordshire, Bedfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Berkshire, Surrey, Essex and north and west London) all have restrictions in force as of 17 July 2026. Check your own supplier's website or a recent bill to confirm.
What can I still do during a hosepipe ban?
Watering cans, buckets and water collected from a butt or other non-mains source remain unrestricted. The ban applies specifically to hosepipes and sprinklers connected to the mains supply.
How much is the fine for breaking a hosepipe ban?
Up to £1,000 per breach, as a criminal offence under the Water Industry Act 1991. Water companies typically say they warn customers first rather than prosecute for a single incident.
Are Blue Badge holders or people with medical needs exempt?
Most companies exempt customers on their Priority Services Register and some medical or health-related uses, alongside certain commercial activities, though exact exemptions and conditions vary by supplier.
When will these hosepipe bans be lifted?
There's no fixed end date. Companies say restrictions will remain in place until reservoir, river and groundwater levels recover, and lift them once that happens, which depends on future rainfall.
SOURCES
- Anglian Water: Temporary water use ban announcement – accessed 17 July 2026
- South East Water: Kent TUB FAQs – accessed 17 July 2026
- Cambridge Water: Temporary hosepipe ban FAQs – accessed 17 July 2026
- Affinity Water: Statutory Notice S.76B Water Industry Act 1991 – accessed 17 July 2026
- GOV.UK/Environment Agency: Water situation area monthly reports – accessed 17 July 2026
