Hosepipe ban issued after high demand on supplies

A hosepipe ban will cover most of south-west England following prolonged dry weather, a utility firm says.

South West Water said due to significantly below average rainfall and high demand on supplies, all customers in Devon, Cornwall, parts of Dorset and Somerset and the Isles of Scilly should not use hosepipes for certain activities.

These included watering gardens, washing cars, patios and boats or filling up swimming and paddling pools.

It said the temporary restrictions would be in place from 00:01 BST on Saturday, but urged customers to follow the measures immediately to help protect supplies.

The company said water could still be used as normal for drinking, flushing toilets, washing and cooking.

In July, South West Water introduced a hosepipe ban in parts of Devon along with Lyme Regis in Dorset.

Sam Bottomley, the firm's water services director, said introducing a hosepipe ban was never a decision taken "lightly".

"After an extended period of exceptionally low rainfall, combined with sustained high demand during the warmer weather, our region's rivers and water resources are under significant pressure," he said.

"Every litre saved now will help protect our rivers and water resources while drought conditions continue."

South West Water said the decision followed one of the "driest periods in recent years" after drought was declared by the Environment Agency for more than half of England in July, and rainfall remained well below seasonal averages over many months.

The Met Office said July 2026 was the driest for England and Wales since records began 190 years ago.

South West Water said it was important for it to "carefully assess" what actions were necessary and appropriate in order to ensure a "resilient" water supply for its customers.

"The company will continue to monitor drought conditions and provide regular updates to customers," a spokesperson said.

Bottomley said they had seen an increase in demand due to the heatwaves.

"We're taking these actions now to preserve the supplies going forward."

He added: "It's really down to [water] consumption, if we all lean in... and reduce the water consumption that will massively help us but we really are reliant on when the rain comes.

"None of us want to restrict any of our customers using water but I think these proactive actions are important right now."

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