Affinity Water Hosepipe Ban Status 2026
Published:
Affinity Water announced a Temporary Use Ban on 10 July 2026, enforceable from 00:01 on Friday 17 July 2026, issued as a statutory notice under Section 76B of the Water Industry Act 1991. Approximately 3.8 million people across Affinity Water's Central region are affected, spanning parts of Bedfordshire, Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Essex, Hertfordshire and Surrey and parts of north and west London. Affinity supplies water only in these areas, so a household on the ban may share a postcode district with a Thames Water or Anglian Water customer who is not. Customers on the Priority Services Register, the WaterSure tariff, and Blue Badge holders are exempt.
Verified 2026-07-10 against Affinity Water's own notice. We do not publish a hosepipe ban on the strength of a news report.
Coverage Area
Affinity Water serves Affinity Water's Central region across the East and South East of England, covering parts of Bedfordshire, Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Essex, Hertfordshire and Surrey, plus parts of north and west London. Affinity supplies water only (waste water is handled by Thames Water and Anglian Water in these areas), so many Affinity customers share a postcode district with a Thames or Anglian customer. The Temporary Use Ban applies to Affinity Water's own supply area only., covering approximately Approximately 3.8 million people.
Primary postcode areas: AL, SG, WD, HP, LU, EN, HA, UB, SL, MK, CM, KT. Use the postcode lookup tool (coming soon) to confirm your supplier.
Ownership: Private (Daiwa, DIF and HICL consortium). Official site: Affinity Water Limited.
Reservoir Snapshot
Affinity Water’s primary reservoirs feeding the service area:
- Groundwater (chalk aquifer) sources across the Central region
- Ardleigh (shared)
- Grafham Water (bulk supply)
Affinity Water's Central region is heavily dependent on chalk groundwater, which is slow to recharge after a dry winter and spring. Following the driest start to a year in decades and three successive heatwaves through June and early July 2026, groundwater and river levels across the region fell below normal for the season, and Affinity moved to a Temporary Use Ban to protect supplies and the chalk streams its abstraction affects. Affinity supplies water to around 3.8 million people and does not own large impounding reservoirs, relying instead on aquifer sources and bulk supplies.
For current reservoir percentages, see the Environment Agency monthly water situation reports at gov.ukand the company’s own drought management plan.
What is Banned, What is Allowed
Restricted uses: Watering a garden using a hosepipe; cleaning a private motor vehicle using a hosepipe; watering plants on domestic or other non-commercial premises; cleaning a private leisure boat; filling or maintaining a domestic swimming or paddling pool; drawing water for domestic recreational use; filling or maintaining a domestic pond or ornamental fountain; cleaning walls, windows, paths, patios or other artificial outdoor surfaces.
Watering with a watering can or bucket is always allowed, as is water from a butt or other non-mains source. Affinity Water's notice exempts customers on the Priority Services Register, customers on the WaterSure tariff, and Blue Badge holders, who may continue to use a hosepipe without making representations. Businesses may use a hosepipe where it is directly needed for their commercial activities. Other exceptions are set out in Affinity Water's Section 76B legal notice; representations can be made in writing to Affinity Water.
Effective date: 17 July 2026 (enforceable from 00:01, Friday 17 July 2026)
Exemptions differ between companies. Before relying on one, check Affinity Water's own notice. For the newly laid turf rule, see our 28-day new turf exemption guide.
Fines and Reporting
Maximum fine: £1,000 maximum per violation.
Breaching the Temporary Use Ban is an offence under Section 76 of the Water Industry Act 1991. A court may impose a fine of up to £1,000. Affinity Water issued its ban as a statutory notice under Section 76B of the Act.
Reporting channel: Affinity Water customer services; representations to TUBrepresentations@affinitywater.co.uk.
UK Lawn Care During Affinity Water Restrictions
A formal TUB is in force from 00:01 on 17 July 2026. Watering with a can or bucket remains legal at any time, as does water from a butt. Affinity Water customers are largely in the drier South East and East, where lawns are cool-season grasses (Perennial Ryegrass, Fescue blends). Raise the mower to 50 to 60 millimetres, stop fertilising, and let the lawn brown off; it recovers when autumn rain returns. Because Affinity shares postcodes with Thames and Anglian, confirm on your bill that Affinity is your supplier before assuming the ban applies to you.
For full UK lawn-care guidance during a hosepipe ban, see our UK lawn care under hosepipe ban guide (forthcoming). US-focused techniques that translate to UK cool-season grasses are available at keep your lawn alive under water restrictions.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there a hosepipe ban in the Affinity Water area right now?
Yes. Affinity Water announced a Temporary Use Ban on 10 July 2026, enforceable from 00:01 on Friday 17 July 2026 under Section 76B of the Water Industry Act 1991. Approximately 3.8 million people across its Central region are affected.
Which areas does the Affinity Water hosepipe ban cover?
Affinity Water's Central region: parts of Bedfordshire, Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Essex, Hertfordshire and Surrey, plus parts of north and west London. Affinity supplies water only in these areas, so your neighbour a few streets away could be a Thames Water or Anglian Water customer and not affected. Check your water bill to confirm Affinity is your supplier.
Why might I be on the ban when my neighbour is not?
Because water supply boundaries do not follow postcodes. Affinity Water shares postcode districts such as AL, WD, HP, LU, EN, HA, UB and SL with Thames Water and Anglian Water, which supply water to other households in the same area. Only Affinity Water's own supply customers are covered by this ban. Your water bill names your supplier.
What is restricted under the Affinity Water TUB?
Using a hosepipe to water a garden or plants, clean a private car, clean walls, windows, paths or patios, fill or maintain a swimming or paddling pool, hot tub, pond or ornamental fountain, clean a private leisure boat, or draw water for domestic recreational use. Watering with a can or bucket is always allowed.
What exemptions apply to the Affinity Water ban?
Watering with a can or bucket, and water from a butt or other non-mains source, are unrestricted. Affinity Water exempts customers on the Priority Services Register, customers on the WaterSure tariff, and Blue Badge holders, who may continue to use a hosepipe without making representations. Businesses may use a hosepipe where it is directly needed for their commercial activities.
What is the fine for breaching the Affinity Water hosepipe ban?
Up to £1,000, imposed by a court under Section 76 of the Water Industry Act 1991. Affinity Water issued the ban as a statutory notice under Section 76B. As with other companies, enforcement typically starts with education rather than moving straight to prosecution.
How do I check if Affinity Water supplies my address?
Check your water bill, which names your supplier, or use our UK postcode checker. Because Affinity shares postcode areas with Thames Water and Anglian Water, the postcode alone cannot tell you with certainty which company supplies you, so the bill is the definitive source.
Neighbouring Water Companies
Affinity Watershares borders with the following water companies. If your postcode straddles a boundary, the neighbouring company’s status may also be relevant:
Counties Affinity Water Serves
County pages for the areas Affinity Water supplies. Each funnels to the postcode checker for the exact answer at your address:
Not sure your area is covered? Is there a hosepipe ban in my area? or use the postcode checker.
← Back to UK water restrictions overview
Source of record: Affinity Water's own status page, last checked 2026-07-10. Updates posted as water companies declare, modify, or lift restrictions.