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Hosepipe Ban in Cornwall 2026: Is Cornwall Affected?

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Andrew Williams
By Andrew Williams · UK Lawn Care & Water Authority Expert · Sussex, United Kingdom
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There is no hosepipe ban currently in Cornwall. South West Water supplies the county and has no Temporary Use Ban in force. Check your postcode to confirm your supplier, as boundaries do not follow county lines.

Cornwall is supplied throughout by South West Water, whose hosepipe ban covers its whole supply area from 00:01 on Saturday 8 August 2026, so the whole county is included. Cornwall was genuinely outside the earlier ban: from 14 July that restriction covered named Mid and East Devon towns only, which is why coverage published before 7 August says Cornwall is unaffected. The Isles of Scilly, administratively separate from Cornwall but sharing the TR postcode area, are also covered.

Check your exact address

Supply boundaries do not follow county lines. The only reliable answer is your postcode.

Check your postcode →

The hosepipe ban in Cornwall

South West Water

Status not verified

We have not verified a current restriction for South West Water against their own notice. Check their status page.

Full detail on the South West Water page.

What you can still do in Cornwall

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.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is there a hosepipe ban in Cornwall?

There is no hosepipe ban currently in force for Cornwall's main supplier. Check your postcode to confirm who supplies you, as boundaries do not follow county lines.

Which water company supplies Cornwall?

South West Water supplies most of Cornwall. Boundaries can still cross the county line, so confirm your supplier on your water bill or with the postcode checker.

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 Cornwall 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 Cornwall postcodes such as TR, PL 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