Yorkshire Water Hosepipe Ban Status 2026
Published: June 24, 2026 · Updated:
No TUB in Force: Drought Level 1 in the Grid Resource Zone
There is no hosepipe ban in Yorkshire. Yorkshire Water's own status page states that no restrictions are in place and that its water resources are healthier than at the same point last year, with reservoir, groundwater and river levels in a healthy position. The Environment Agency's summary report for 18 to 26 June 2026 records that Yorkshire Water has moved into drought level 1 in its Grid water resource zone, a trigger point in the company's own drought plan, and notes that the company has no dry weather concerns at the moment. Readers may have seen reports of a Yorkshire hosepipe ban beginning on Friday 11 July: that was the 2025 ban, which ran from 11 July 2025 and was lifted on 10 December 2025. In 2026, 11 July falls on a Saturday.
Coverage Area
Yorkshire Water serves Yorkshire region: West Yorkshire, North Yorkshire, South Yorkshire, East Riding.
Yorkshire Water serves approximately 5 million across the Yorkshire region.
Not sure of your supplier or whether your address is covered? Use the postcode checker. Official site: Yorkshire Water Services Ltd.
Drought Outlook
Yorkshire Water introduced a Temporary Use Ban on 11 July 2025 after the driest and warmest spring in 132 years left the region in drought, and lifted it on 10 December 2025 once reservoir storage had recovered. Going into summer 2026 the company reports reservoir levels above where they stood a year earlier. The Environment Agency's 18 to 26 June 2026 report places Yorkshire Water at drought level 1 in its Grid resource zone while recording no dry weather concerns, and notes below-normal levels in the faster-responding chalk aquifers across Yorkshire. Nationally, reservoir storage for England stood at 87.5 per cent for the week ending 23 June 2026, the long-term average for the time of year.
What is Banned, What is Allowed
No restrictions currently in force, so no exemptions apply.
Exemptions differ between companies. Before relying on one, check Yorkshire Water's own notice. For the newly laid turf rule, see our 28-day new turf exemption guide, and for the commercial rules our hosepipe ban rules for businesses.
Fines and Reporting
Maximum fine: No fines currently: no TUB in force.
No restrictions are currently in force. Should Yorkshire Water declare a Temporary Use Ban, the standard maximum fine of £1,000 per violation under Section 76 of the Water Industry Act 1991 would apply.
Reporting channel: No reporting channel: no restrictions in force.
UK Lawn Care During Yorkshire Water Restrictions
No TUB is in force, so hosepipe use remains legal across Yorkshire. Voluntary restraint is still sensible during a hot, dry summer in which neighbouring regions are restricted. Yorkshire lawns are primarily Perennial Ryegrass with some Fescue blends. Water deeply and infrequently in the early morning, raise the mower to 50 to 60 millimetres, and ease off fertiliser during heat stress.
See our keep your lawn alive under a hosepipe ban guide, and overseeding during a hosepipe ban for the September window.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there a hosepipe ban in Yorkshire right now?
No. Yorkshire Water's own status page states that no restrictions are in place and that its water resources are healthier than at the same point last year. The Environment Agency's 18 to 26 June 2026 summary report records that Yorkshire Water has no dry weather concerns at the moment.
Why do some reports say the Yorkshire hosepipe ban starts on Friday 11 July?
Because that was 2025. Yorkshire Water introduced a Temporary Use Ban on Friday 11 July 2025, following the driest and warmest spring in 132 years, and lifted it on 10 December 2025. In 2026, 11 July falls on a Saturday. Coverage recycling the 2025 date is describing a ban that has already been and gone.
What is drought level 1 and does it mean a hosepipe ban?
No. Drought level 1 is a trigger point inside a water company's own drought plan, not a restriction on customers and not an Environment Agency drought declaration. The Environment Agency's 18 to 26 June 2026 report records Yorkshire Water moving into drought level 1 in its Grid resource zone while explicitly noting the company has no dry weather concerns at the moment.
Could Yorkshire Water declare a hosepipe ban later this summer?
It is possible. Yorkshire Water has said it cannot rule out restrictions while other companies impose them, and the faster-responding chalk aquifers across Yorkshire are below normal. Any Temporary Use Ban would be announced on Yorkshire Water's own website before it took effect, and would carry a maximum fine of £1,000 per violation once enforceable.
Which reservoirs supply Yorkshire Water?
Yorkshire Water draws primarily from Ladybower (shared with Severn Trent), Damflask, Howden, and Strines reservoirs. Ladybower is at the centre of the region's water supply and its level is the most-watched indicator for any escalation.
How do I check if my postcode is in Yorkshire Water coverage?
Yorkshire Water serves the LS, BD, HD, HX, WF, S, DN, HU, YO, and HG postcode areas. For exact coverage use the postcode checker on the Yorkshire Water website.
← Back to UK water restrictions overview
Source of record: Yorkshire Water's own status page, last checked 2026-07-10. Updates posted as water companies declare, modify, or lift restrictions.