Thames Water and South East Water impose hosepipe bans across southern England amid severe drought conditions

Over 23 million people across England and Wales will face hosepipe restrictions by this weekend, with Thames Water becoming the latest major supplier to announce mandatory bans. The restrictions follow months of exceptionally dry weather and represent the largest coordinated water-saving effort in recent years, as eight regions move closer to official drought status.

Expanding Restrictions Across the South

Thames Water, which supplies over 10 million customers across London and the Thames valley, announced its ban on Tuesday, with enforcement beginning Thursday. The restriction follows South East Water's decision on Monday to extend its existing Kent ban to cover 2.4 million additional customers in Sussex, Surrey, Hampshire, and Berkshire. Combined with bans already in place from Affinity Water, Anglian Water, Cambridge Water, Southern Water, and South West Water, nearly half the English population now faces usage limits.

Both Thames Water and South East Water have asked customers to observe restrictions immediately, though formal enforcement dates remain staggered. Thames Water's region experienced only 40 percent of normal spring rainfall, while demand for water increased 10 percent above average in the Thames valley and home counties, and 7 percent in London alone. The company described the additional 100 million litres per day of demand as equivalent to supplying an entire city the size of Manchester.

Official Drought Assessment and Affected Areas

The National Drought Group, which coordinates response between government bodies, water companies, meteorologists, farmers, and environmental organizations, confirmed on Tuesday that eight regions have entered "prolonged dry weather" status—the stage immediately preceding official drought declaration. These areas span East Anglia, the West Midlands, Devon and Cornwall, Lincolnshire and Northamptonshire, Hertfordshire and London, Wessex, Thames, and the Solent and South Downs regions.

The situation reflects a sustained period of unusual weather patterns. Despite an exceptionally wet winter that initially promised adequate supplies, England and Wales experienced an unprecedented sequence of three heatwaves and recorded the driest spring on record. Rivers have been particularly affected, with only 13 percent maintaining normal water levels, according to available assessments.