Hosepipe Ban in Bedfordshire 2026: Is Bedfordshire Affected?
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Parts of Bedfordshire are affected. Bedfordshire is served by more than one water company, and at least one has a hosepipe ban in force, so whether your address is included depends on your supplier. Check your postcode to find out.
Bedfordshire is split between Affinity Water (ban from 17 July) and Anglian Water (ban from 11 July). Check your postcode.
Check your exact address
Supply boundaries do not follow county lines. The only reliable answer is your postcode.
Check your postcode →Who supplies Bedfordshire
Bedfordshire does not have a single water company. The suppliers below each cover part of the county, and their bans (where they have one) start on different dates. We will not guess which one serves your address, because the boundaries follow historical infrastructure rather than the county line. Your water bill names your supplier, and the postcode checker returns every candidate for your postcode.
Affinity Water
TUB Active: Central region (enforceable from 17 July 2026)Dates: 17 July 2026 (enforceable from 00:01, Friday 17 July 2026)
Banned: 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.
Still allowed: 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.
Fine: £1,000 maximum per violation.
Full detail on the Affinity Water page.
Anglian Water
TUB Active: East of England (enforceable from 11 July 2026)Dates: In place from 10 July 2026 (enforceable from 01:01, Saturday 11 July 2026)
Banned: Watering gardens and plants; cleaning private vehicles; cleaning paths, patios, walls, windows and other artificial outdoor surfaces; filling or maintaining swimming pools, paddling pools and hot tubs; filling or maintaining ponds and ornamental fountains; cleaning private leisure boats. Sprinklers, pressure washers, dripper hoses and automatic irrigation systems connected to the mains supply are restricted alongside handheld hosepipes.
Still allowed: Watering with a watering can or bucket is always allowed. Water drawn from a water butt or another recycled or stored water system rather than the mains supply is unrestricted. Anglian Water lists exceptions covering Priority Services Register customers who cannot make reasonable adjustments because of a health condition or disability; uses necessary to protect human or animal health and safety; animal welfare, including the care of pets, livestock and fish; religious practice; and specific business needs. Anglian Water's drought plan also permits watering newly laid turf and newly sown lawns for up to 28 days (four weeks) after laying, where watering by can is not a practical option. Exceptions and their conditions are set out in Anglian Water's own Temporary Use Ban notice; check it before relying on any exception.
Fine: £1,000 maximum per violation.
Full detail on the Anglian Water page.
What you can still do in Bedfordshire
A hosepipe ban restricts the hosepipe, not the water. Watering with a can or bucket is always allowed, collected rainwater and greywater are unrestricted, and the exemptions are wider than most people realise. For the full allowed-versus-banned list and how it differs by company, see what you can still do under a hosepipe ban. If you have newly laid turf, the 28-day new turf exemption may apply.
Explore the wider picture
- Is there a hosepipe ban in my area? the national picture and every county.
- UK hosepipe ban map colour-coded by region.
- Postcode checker the exact answer for your address.
- Hosepipe ban fines explained the £1,000 penalty and how enforcement works.
- UK hosepipe ban hub every company and status.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there a hosepipe ban in Bedfordshire?
Bedfordshire is served by more than one water company (Affinity Water and Anglian Water), and at least one has a hosepipe ban. Whether your address is affected depends on which company supplies you, so check your postcode or your water bill.
Which water company supplies Bedfordshire?
More than one: Affinity Water and Anglian Water. Their supply areas follow historical infrastructure, not the county boundary, so Bedfordshire cannot be assigned to a single company. Your water bill names your supplier, and our postcode checker returns every candidate for your postcode.
Is a hosepipe ban set by the council or the water company?
The water company, not the council. A Temporary Use Ban is declared by your water company under Section 76 of the Water Industry Act 1991. That is why the answer depends on your supplier and not on which county or district you live in.
How do I check if my Bedfordshire postcode is affected?
Use our UK postcode checker, which maps your postcode to its water company or companies and shows each one's current status. Because Bedfordshire postcodes such as LU, MK, SG can span more than one supplier, the checker returns every candidate with a note to confirm on your bill.
County-to-company routing is a guide, not a guarantee: water supply boundaries follow historical infrastructure, not county lines. The definitive answer for your address is the postcode checker and your water bill. ← Back to UK hosepipe ban status