A hosepipe ban is now in force for Thames Water customers, restricting non-essential outdoor water use during a period of prolonged dry weather, heatwaves and high demand.
At a glance
| What has happened? | Thames Water has introduced a Temporary Use Ban, commonly known as a hosepipe ban. |
| When did it start? | 00:01 on Thursday 23 July 2026. |
| Who is affected? | Customers whose drinking water is supplied by Thames Water. Wastewater-only customers are not affected by this Thames Water ban. |
| What is restricted? | Hosepipes, sprinklers and pressure washers for non-essential uses such as watering gardens, washing cars and filling paddling pools. |
| What is still allowed? | Watering cans, buckets, water butts, grey water and essential water use for drinking, cooking, washing and hygiene. |
| Possible fine | Up to £1,000 for breaching the legal notice. |
| More information | Thames Water hosepipe ban page |
Oxfordshire households supplied with drinking water by Thames Water are among those affected by a new hosepipe ban introduced after weeks of hot, dry weather and rising demand.
The restriction, officially called a Temporary Use Ban, means customers must not use hosepipes, sprinklers or pressure washers for a range of non-essential outdoor activities.
Thames Water says the ban is needed to protect water supplies and the environment after a very dry spring, three official heatwaves, record temperatures and continued high water use.
The company says its region received only 40% of average spring rainfall, with no rainfall so far in July in the Thames catchment when the ban was announced. It also says water demand is around 10% above normal in the Thames Valley and Home Counties, and 7% above normal in London.
What Oxfordshire customers cannot do
Customers covered by the ban must not use a hosepipe or pressure washer for several common outdoor jobs.
That includes watering gardens, lawns, plants or allotments with a hosepipe; using sprinklers; cleaning private cars, patios, paths, driveways, walls or windows; and filling or topping up paddling pools, swimming pools or hot tubs.
The legal notice also prohibits filling or maintaining ornamental fountains with a hosepipe, except in limited circumstances such as where it is needed to oxygenate a fishpond or has religious significance.
| Activity | Can you use a hosepipe? |
|---|---|
| Watering a garden, lawn or flowerbed | No, unless an exemption applies. |
| Watering an allotment | No for general watering, but food crop exemptions may apply where a watering can is not reasonable. |
| Cleaning a private car | No. Use a bucket and sponge instead. |
| Cleaning windows, patios, paths or driveways | No, unless needed for health and safety or covered by another exemption. |
| Filling a paddling pool, swimming pool or hot tub | No for general domestic recreation, with limited exemptions for medical, veterinary, construction or religious uses. |
| Using a sprinkler | No, if connected to mains water. |
What residents can still do
The ban does not stop people using water for essential needs such as drinking, cooking, washing and hygiene.
Gardeners can still use watering cans and buckets. Water collected in a water butt can be used, and Thames Water says non-mains water, including grey water, rainwater from a water butt or water from a private borehole, can still be used through a hosepipe.
People can also wash a car with a bucket, and Thames Water says a short length of hose, up to 30cm, can be used to fill a watering can.
Residents who are unsure whether Thames Water supplies their drinking water should check their supplier before assuming the ban applies. The ban does not apply to people who only receive wastewater services from Thames Water, although their own water supplier may have separate restrictions.
Who may be exempt?
There are exemptions, but residents should read the Thames Water legal notice carefully before relying on one.
Exemptions include some health and safety uses, animal welfare, fishponds, severe mobility problems, certain medical needs, Priority Services customers who cannot reasonably adjust water use because of disability or medical condition, approved drip or trickle irrigation systems, some business services, and watering certain newly planted trees or hedges.
Food crops at domestic premises or private allotments may also be watered with a hosepipe where this cannot reasonably be done by watering can.
| Possible exemption | What Thames Water says |
|---|---|
| Health and safety | Hosepipe use may be allowed where needed to remove or reduce risks to human or animal health and safety. |
| Severe mobility problems | People with severe mobility problems, whether or not they hold a Blue Badge, may be exempt for several domestic uses. |
| Priority Services customers | Some customers with medical conditions or disabilities may be exempt where they cannot reasonably adjust their water use. |
| Fish and aquatic animals | Hosepipes may be used to fill or maintain ponds where fish or other aquatic animals are kept. |
| New trees and hedges | Hosepipe use is allowed for certain trees, whips, saplings and hedging planted within the last three years, where they cannot be hand-watered or watered with non-potable water. |
| Newly laid turf or planting | Where planting, sowing or turf laying has been carried out by a business as a service, hosepipe use may be allowed for the first 28 days. |
| Drip or trickle irrigation | Approved systems may be used if fitted with a pressure-reducing valve and timer and if water is delivered drip by drip to the soil without spray, mist or run-off. |
More detailed exemptions are set out in Thames Water’s legal notice.
How long will the ban last?
Thames Water has not given an end date.
The company says the ban will remain in place until water levels and conditions recover enough for restrictions to be lifted.
Its FAQ says prolonged and significant rainfall will be needed, and that customer water savings will also be important.
The company says it will keep the situation under review and update customers when restrictions change.
Will Thames Water enforce the ban?
Thames Water says it hopes customers will use water wisely and follow the restrictions.
The company says people do not need to contact it about neighbours using hosepipes, and specifically says not to call 999 if someone is seen using a hosepipe.
It says it will contact customers who repeatedly do not follow the rules to make sure they understand the restrictions and how to use water responsibly.
Under the legal notice, anyone who contravenes the prohibitions may be guilty of an offence and liable on summary conviction to a fine of up to £1,000.
Will customers get compensation or a bill reduction?
Thames Water says compensation does not apply during a hosepipe ban.
The company says compensation applies to an Emergency Drought Order, which is not the situation here.
It also says it will not reduce bills because of the ban. Metered customers pay for the water they use, and unmetered customers are not charged in a way that relates specifically to hosepipe use.
Why has Thames Water introduced the ban?
Thames Water says customers across London and the Thames Valley are using an extra 100 million litres of water every day, equivalent to adding all the homes in Manchester to its network.
During peak periods, the company says water has been used faster than it can be treated and moved through parts of the network.
The hot weather also increases evaporation from water bodies such as rivers and lakes. Thames Water says managing how much water it takes from rivers can help protect local wildlife.
The company has faced pressure over leakage, especially while asking customers to reduce their own water use. Thames Water says it is repairing more than 750 leaks a week, has installed more than 1.3 million smart meters, and is investing £20 billion over five years in its network.
What gardeners in Oxfordshire can do now
The ban does not mean gardens have to be abandoned, but it does mean residents need to be selective.
Watering cans are still allowed, so the best approach is to prioritise plants most at risk: pots, hanging baskets, newly planted shrubs, young trees, vegetables and anything with shallow roots.
Lawns can usually be left to go brown during dry weather and should recover when rain returns. Established shrubs and many perennials are often more resilient than they look, especially if they are watered deeply and less often rather than lightly every day.
The RHS advises gardeners to follow hosepipe bans, use watering cans where needed, reuse grey water when rainwater stores are exhausted, mulch plants to retain moisture, and move pots or baskets into shade during hot weather. :contentReference[oaicite:2]{index=2}
Garden care during the hosepipe ban
| Prioritise pots | Containers dry out faster than plants in the ground and are more likely to fail quickly. |
| Water the roots | Use a watering can at the base of the plant rather than sprinkling leaves or bare soil. |
| Water early or late | Watering in the cooler parts of the day reduces evaporation. |
| Mulch after watering | Compost, bark or other mulch can help soil hold moisture and reduce competition from weeds. |
| Use grey water carefully | Lightly used water from washing fruit, vegetables or household use can help ornamental plants, provided it does not contain harsh chemicals. |
| Let lawns wait | Grass may turn brown in hot weather but often recovers after rain. |
| Move containers | Putting pots in light shade can reduce stress during the hottest part of the day. |
What about businesses?
Businesses are covered by the ban, but Thames Water says most restrictions apply to domestic and non-commercial water use.
Business services such as professional window cleaning, car washing and some outdoor surface cleaning can continue where the hosepipe use relates to a commercial service for customers.
However, businesses cannot use hosepipes or sprinklers for non-essential needs such as watering gardens and green spaces outside their premises unless an exemption applies.
Garden centres, plant nurseries and agricultural land have separate exemptions for plants grown or kept for sale or commercial use.
What about parks, sports pitches and public spaces?
In general, hoses and sprinklers cannot be used in parks, public gardens and green spaces.
Sports pitches can only be watered on the area actively used for play, and only where it is needed for health and safety reasons, such as if the ground becomes dangerously hard.
Councils cannot use hosepipes and sprinklers to water hanging baskets and floral displays, according to Thames Water’s FAQ.
What residents should check before using a hosepipe
Because exemptions are detailed, anyone unsure should check Thames Water’s FAQ and legal notice before using a hosepipe.
That is especially important for allotment holders, people with newly planted trees, residents using drip irrigation, customers with medical or mobility needs, and businesses providing outdoor services.
The safest rule is simple: if the activity is non-essential and uses mains water through a hosepipe, sprinkler or pressure washer, assume it is not allowed unless Thames Water clearly lists an exemption.
FAQs
Does the Thames Water hosepipe ban apply in Oxfordshire?
It applies to Oxfordshire customers whose drinking water is supplied by Thames Water. It does not apply to wastewater-only customers, although their own water supplier may have separate restrictions.
Can I water my garden with a watering can?
Yes. Thames Water says watering cans and buckets can still be used.
Can I use a hosepipe to fill a watering can?
Thames Water says a short piece of hose, up to 30cm, can be used to fill a watering can.
Can I wash my car?
You cannot use a hosepipe or pressure washer to clean a private car. You can wash it using a bucket.
Can I fill a paddling pool?
No, not for general domestic recreation. There are limited exemptions for medical, veterinary, construction and religious uses, which are set out in the legal notice.
Can I water food crops on my allotment?
A hosepipe can be used to water food crops at domestic premises or private allotments where this cannot reasonably be done with a watering can.
Can I water newly planted trees?
Thames Water allows hosepipe use for certain trees, whips, saplings and hedging planted within the last three years where they cannot be hand-watered or watered with non-potable water.
Can businesses still use hosepipes?
Some business services can continue, but businesses should check the rules carefully. Non-essential hosepipe use, such as watering gardens and green spaces, is restricted unless an exemption applies.
Will my bill be reduced?
No. Thames Water says bills will not be reduced because of the hosepipe ban, and compensation does not apply during a Temporary Use Ban.
Where can I check the full rules?
The full rules are available through the Thames Water hosepipe ban FAQs and legal notice.
