💧 Drought and hosepipe bans snapshot
Environment Agency, week to 22 Oct 2026
Where England is in drought, which water
companies have hosepipe bans, and how full the reservoirs are, from the Environment Agency's weekly report.
Is there a hosepipe ban in my area?
Ten water companies have bans in force IN FORCE
Temporary use bans, usually called hosepipe bans: Affinity Water (Central and East),
Anglian Water (all but Hartlepool), Bristol Water, Cambridge Water, Essex and Suffolk
Water, Southern Water (Hampshire and the Isle of Wight), South East Water, South West
Water (all but Bournemouth), Thames Water and Wessex Water. Smaller suppliers inside those areas
have matching bans. Your water bill names your company; its website says exactly what is banned.
Which parts of England are in drought?
Severe drought in parts of the South and South West NO CHANGE THIS WEEK
Severe drought in parts of Devon, Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly; Wessex; Solent and
South Downs; and Kent and South London. Drought across the rest of those areas and in East Anglia,
Hertfordshire and North London, Thames, the West Midlands, the East Midlands, Lincolnshire and
Northamptonshire, and Yorkshire. Prolonged dry weather in the North East, Cumbria and Lancashire, and
Greater Manchester, Merseyside and Cheshire.
How full are the reservoirs?
54% full, about 22 points below normal for the time of year
England had 52% of its usual October rain by 22 October. Thirteen reservoirs or groups are
exceptionally low, among them Ardingly, Abberton, Hanningfield, Grafham Water, Rutland Water, Wimbleball,
Roadford, Colliford and Stithians. River flows rose at most sites that week, but groundwater is still falling in
many places: the ground has to be soaked before rain refills the aquifers. The reservoir refill season starts on
1 November.
i
A hosepipe ban stays in place until your water company lifts it, whatever the season, and the Environment Agency
says a wetter than normal winter is needed to avoid drought next year. Using a watering can, washing a car with a
bucket and anything for health or safety are normally still allowed; your company's list is the one that counts.