Two firms issue hosepipe bans as third heatwave causes demand to surge

Yorkshire Water’s hosepipe ban came into force last Friday, and South East Water plans to follow suit from this Friday for its Kent and Sussex customers – as the country experiences its third heatwave of the year after a very dry Spring.

Yorkshire is in drought, and the company said the sustained hot weather has driven higher demand for water across the region, with an additional 4.3bn litres of water being put into supply between April and June compared with a typical year – enough to supply Leeds for five weeks. Yorkshire’s reservoirs are currently at 55.8%, which is 26.1% lower than they would normally be at this time of year.

South East Water explained record-breaking demand was behind its decision to introduce a ban. Healthy raw water levels at the start of the year have fallen faster and earlier than usual and have now exceeded limits in the company’s drought plan. Despite pleas and communications for customers to use water wisely, South East said in recent weeks, demand for water has increased to the highest levels ever seen for this time of year, reaching 680m litres on 30 June 2025 – 105m litres of water a day more than the average for summer. On such days, the company said it has to pump enough water to supply an additional four towns the size of Maidstone or Eastbourne. 

This is a higher level than it is able to consistently provide and has left “no choice” but to introduce restrictions for 1.4m customers in Kent and Sussex. South East said it is monitoring the situation in its Western region, where it serves customers in parts of Surrey, Hampshire and Berkshire.

The restrictions are on hosepipe and sprinkler use for garden watering, cleaning, and pool/pond filling. Exclusions apply. Businesses are allowed to use a hosepipe if it is directly related to a commercial purpose.

All water companies are urging customers to use water wisely and have stepped up leak repair activities. The North West is in drought and other parts of the country in Prolonged Dry Weather status. Thames Water has warned there is heightened risk of drought in its region: “Unless the situation changes significantly, we'll need to put in place usage restrictions. This includes a hosepipe ban, to ensure taps keep running for customers’ essential use.”

Helpfully, a lot of media reporting this year has linked the restrictions to climate change and the extreme weather.