Is There a Hosepipe Ban in My Area? (UK 2026)
Published: July 10, 2026 · Updated:
To check if there is a hosepipe ban at your address, enter your postcode below.
A hosepipe ban is set by your water company, not your council, and supply boundaries do not follow council or county lines. Your postcode is the reliable way to know.
We use the first part of your postcode only to identify your water company. We do not store full postcodes.
Where there is a hosepipe ban right now
Ten UK water companies have a hosepipe ban in force or declared. Each links to its full page and the counties it covers.
Southern Water
TUB Active: Hampshire and the Isle of Wight in force since 10 July 2026Hampshire + Isle of Wight only (NOT Sussex). Hampshire and the Isle of Wight in force since 10 July 2026.
South East Water
TUB Active: Kent in force since 3 July 2026; Sussex, Surrey, Hampshire and Berkshire in force since 25 July 2026Whole supply area (Kent now; rest from 25 July). Kent in force since 3 July 2026; Sussex, Surrey, Hampshire and Berkshire in force since 25 July 2026.
Thames Water
TUB Active: The Thames Water drinking-water supply area (London, the Thames Valley and the home counties) in force since 23 July 2026London + Thames Valley. The Thames Water drinking-water supply area (London, the Thames Valley and the home counties) in force since 23 July 2026.
Anglian Water
TUB Active: East of England (except Hartlepool) in force since 10 July 2026East of England, except Hartlepool. East of England (except Hartlepool) in force since 10 July 2026.
Cambridge Water
TUB Active: Cambridge region in force since 9 July 2026Cambridge Water region (NOT South Staffs). Cambridge region in force since 9 July 2026.
Affinity Water
TUB Active: Central region in force since 17 July 2026Central region (Herts, Beds, Bucks, Berks, Surrey, parts of Essex and London). Central region in force since 17 July 2026.
Wessex Water
TUB Active: The whole Wessex Water supply area in force since 18 August 2026Dorset, Somerset, Wiltshire + parts of Hants and Gloucs. The whole Wessex Water supply area in force since 18 August 2026.
South West Water
TUB Active: The whole South West Water supply area, being Devon, Cornwall, parts of Dorset and Somerset, and the Isles of Scilly in force since 8 August 2026Devon, Cornwall, Scilly + parts of Dorset and Somerset. The whole South West Water supply area, being Devon, Cornwall, parts of Dorset and Somerset, and the Isles of Scilly in force since 8 August 2026.
Essex & Suffolk Water
TUB Active: All household customers across the Essex and Suffolk supply area in force since 3 August 2026Whole supply area (households only). All household customers across the Essex and Suffolk supply area in force since 3 August 2026.
Welsh Water (Dŵr Cymru)
TUB Active: Mid and south Ceredigion, north Pembrokeshire and north Carmarthenshire in force since 19 July 2026parts of west Wales. Mid and south Ceredigion, north Pembrokeshire and north Carmarthenshire in force since 19 July 2026.
See it on the map
Prefer a visual? The UK hosepipe ban map colour-codes every water company region by status, red for an active ban, and each region links to its company page. It is the fastest way to see the national picture at a glance, then use the checker above for your exact address.
Open the UK hosepipe ban map →Find your county
County pages give the ban status, dates and exemptions for each county, and funnel to the postcode checker for your exact address. Split counties (served by more than one company) route you straight to the checker.
How to check properly
- Your water company is not your council. A hosepipe ban is a water company decision under Section 76 of the Water Industry Act 1991. Your local authority does not set or lift it.
- Check your water bill. It names your supplier. That is the single most reliable answer, because supply areas cross council and county boundaries.
- Use the postcode checker above. It returns the candidate company or companies for your postcode, with a note to confirm on your bill where a postcode is split.
- Water UK runs a national checker too. The industry body's "find your water company" tool is another way to identify your supplier if you are unsure.
- Supply and sewerage can differ. A hosepipe ban applies to your water supply company, which may not be the company that handles your waste water.
More from the hosepipe ban cluster
- UK hosepipe ban hub every company, status and date.
- What you can still do under a hosepipe ban allowed versus banned, by company and county.
- Hosepipe ban fines explained the £1,000 penalty, who prosecutes, and reporting.
- The 28-day new turf exemption watering newly laid turf during a ban.
- Latest updates the changelog of declarations.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I know if I am affected by a hosepipe ban?
Enter your postcode in the checker above. It maps your postcode to its water company or companies and shows each one's current status. Because a hosepipe ban is set by your water company, not your council, and supply boundaries do not follow council or county lines, your postcode (and ultimately your water bill) is the only reliable way to know.
Is a hosepipe ban set by the council or the water company?
The water company. A Temporary Use Ban is declared by your water company under Section 76 of the Water Industry Act 1991. Councils have no role in it. Two houses on the same street can have different answers if they are served by different water companies, which happens often in areas where a water-only supplier like Affinity Water overlaps a company like Thames Water.
Which areas have a hosepipe ban right now?
The list changes through the summer. The section above is generated from our live records and shows every company currently under a ban, each linked to its page and the counties it covers. As of July 2026 the companies with bans are in the East of England, the South East, Hampshire and the Isle of Wight, Kent, the Cambridge area, and Affinity Water's Central region.
How do I find out which water company supplies me?
Your water bill names your supplier. If you do not have it to hand, the postcode checker above returns the candidate company or companies for your postcode. Water UK also runs a national 'find your supplier' checker. Note that your water (supply) company can differ from your sewerage company; a hosepipe ban is about the supply company.
My neighbour is not affected but I am. Why?
Because water supply boundaries follow historical infrastructure, not streets. Water-only companies such as Affinity Water share postcode districts with Thames Water and Anglian Water, so one household can be on Affinity's ban while the house opposite is a Thames customer and is not. Your water bill settles it.