How can I water my garden during a hosepipe ban and will there be drought this summer?

Many people in southern England are now dealing with restrictions on using hosepipes because there has been very little rain and the weather has been extremely hot. On Tuesday, Thames Water, which is the largest water company in Britain, announced that a ban would start on Thursday. This article explains what these restrictions mean for you.

Water companies decide to impose hosepipe bans when their water supplies, such as reservoirs and rivers, fall to very low levels. Anglian Water explained that river levels in their area are below normal, with some rivers at very low points for this time of year. Reservoir levels are also lower than usual.

Thames Water stated that water use in the Thames Valley, the home counties, and London has been higher than normal recently. Several other water companies have also reported above-average water use during the recent heatwaves, which have been the hottest on record.

More than 20 million households are now affected by these hosepipe bans. These cover large areas of south and south-east England, as well as some parts of Wales. Several water companies, including Affinity Water, Anglian Water, and Thames Water, have put these bans in place.

The law that allows water companies to implement these bans is the Flood and Water Management Act 2010. This law gives them the authority to restrict the use of hosepipes for tasks that are not essential, like watering gardens with sprinklers, filling private swimming pools or hot tubs, or washing cars and windows.

Even with a ban, you can still water your garden using a watering can filled from the tap. You can also reuse water from your bath or washing dishes, and collect rainwater in a water butt. Some exceptions to the ban exist, such as watering newly laid turf for up to 28 days, or watering young trees and plants for a limited time after planting or purchase.

Potentially, yes, drought conditions could occur this summer. Although no areas are officially in drought at the moment, the conditions are favourable for it to happen. The Environment Agency has reported that eight areas in England are experiencing prolonged dry weather, which is a stage before drought is declared. June 2026 was recorded as the hottest June on record for England, with temperatures reaching 37.7C. July has also seen high temperatures, breaking records for consecutive days above 30C. Rainfall has been very low, especially in eastern and south-east England.

Last month, the government and water companies launched a public campaign to encourage people to reduce their water usage. The campaign, called Let’s Save Water, aims for everyone to cut their daily use by about two large buckets. However, critics argue that the water industry has not invested enough in its infrastructure. Research found that water pipes in England and Wales are leaking significantly more water than could be saved by a nationwide hosepipe ban.