Wessex Water Imposes First Hosepipe Ban in 50 Years

Water utility companies across England are implementing strict usage restrictions as a fifth summer heatwave drives temperatures to 38.1C. Wessex Water imposed a legal hosepipe ban starting August 18, 2026, affecting 1.4 million households across Bath, Somerset, Dorset, and most of Wiltshire. This marks the company's first such restriction since the drought of 1976.

Chief Executive Ruth Jefferson reported that demand has consistently exceeded 400 million litres per day, which is 30 per cent above the seasonal average. While essential supplies remain available, the company is struggling to move water through the network quickly enough to meet record levels of demand. Under the Water Industry Act, violators who use hosepipes for washing cars, cleaning windows, or watering gardens may face fines of up to £1,000.

Simultaneously, Affinity Water extended its Temporary Use Ban to the Tendring Peninsula in Essex on August 17. This extension follows an August 10 drought declaration by the Environment Agency covering more than two-thirds of England. The restrictions in Essex target depleted underground stores and the Ardleigh Reservoir, while shifting dry soil has further strained the system by increasing pipe leaks. More than 27 million people across England are now under similar water restrictions.