London hosepipe ban 2026: Everything you need to know, who is affected and what happens if you break ban

Need to know

Hosepipe bans have been imposed by Thames Water, Affinity Water, and South East Water across London as well as Kent, Surrey, Buckinghamshire, Essex, Cambridgeshire and Hertfordshire

Hosepipe bans have been brought in across the majority of London(Image: Andrew Redington/ Getty Images)

Need to know: Hosepipe bans imposed across London this week as heatwave set to continue

Thames Water will impose a hosepipe ban across most of London from midnight on Thursday morning (July 23) following the driest spring in years and three official heatwaves.
The ban affects all Thames Water customers across London, the Thames Valley and the Home Counties, where water demand has “soared”.
There’s already a hosepipe ban imposed by Affinity Water in parts of West London, such as Uxbridge, Harrow and Feltham, which also covers parts of Surrey, Buckinghamshire, Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire, Hertfordshire and Essex.
There are hosepipe bans in parts of South London on the Surrey border covered by South East Water (SES). Parts of Kent covered by SES have been under a ban since the start of July, but earlier this week, the provider added parts of Sussex, Surrey, Hampshire and Berkshire to that ban, which includes some London households.
Those covered by the bans are prohibited from using hosepipes for non-essential activities, such as watering gardens, cleaning cars, filling paddling pools or topping up hot tubs.
Some customers may be exempt from the hosepipe ban under certain conditions, such as health and safety or animal needs.
Affinity Water said it is not looking to catch anyone out but may take further action against repeat offenders who continue to use hosepipes after being made aware of the ban.
Affinity Water said it was receiving less water than usual from the Grafham Water reservoir, which typically supplies about 10 per cent of the total amount.
Thames Water reported a “significant” rise in water demand during recent heatwaves. SES Water, which supplies South London households near the Surrey border, said it does not expect to introduce a ban this summer.
Last month was the hottest June on record in the UK, with temperatures reaching 37.7C in parts of England. The Met Office reported that 2026 has been the first year ever when temperatures exceeding 35C have been recorded in May, June and July.