Wessex Water will impose its first hosepipe ban in 50 years starting at 00:01 on Tuesday, 18 August 2026, according to the company's announcement. The restriction, which applies to all customers across its supply area, follows weeks of drought conditions and record-breaking water demand that has averaged more than 400 million litres a day. It brings Wessex Water in line with eight other water companies across the country that have already introduced similar measures this summer.
The company serves approximately 1.4 million customers spanning Bath, parts of Somerset, Dorset and Wiltshire, along with Berkeley, Sharpness and Wotton in Gloucestershire.
"This isn't a decision we've made lightly and we're sorry for the inconvenience it will cause,"
said chief executive Ruth Jefferson.
"The prolonged and extreme dry weather has meant demand across our region has consistently remained at more than 400 million litres per day, 30 per cent above average for this time of year,"
she added.
"[That's] the equivalent of almost half a million hosepipes running for a full hour every day."
The company recorded its highest ever daily demand on 11 July, when customers used 449 million litres of water.
What activities does the ban cover?
Under the restrictions, hosepipes cannot be used for tasks such as filling swimming pools, watering plants or gardens, or washing vehicles. According to a regional broadcaster's report, the ban also extends to cleaning windows, patios, paths and driveways, as well as filling paddling pools.
Exemptions apply to customers who cannot make reasonable adjustments because of a health condition or disability, along with certain businesses and those using hosepipes for animal welfare purposes.
How does this compare to other water companies in the region?
Other water suppliers in the West Country have taken varying approaches. Bristol Water and Severn Trent Water have not yet introduced hosepipe bans, while Thames Water, which supplies some customers in parts of Gloucestershire and Wiltshire, put restrictions in place from 23 July. South West Water, serving parts of Somerset, announced its own ban on 10 August.
Are Wessex Water's supplies under threat?
Company officials say overall supplies remain stable despite the pressure of sustained high demand.
"We're working really hard around the clock to maintain service to customers,"
said Will Willoughby, director of water supply at Wessex Water.
"The supplies are in a stable position at the moment, 75% of our resource comes from underwater sources which are around where we would expect to see them for this time of year."
"The other 25% come from our surface-water reservoirs, so big lakes and bodies of water, and they're around the 58% mark, so where we would expect to see them."
Willoughby noted that current demand driven by extreme heat and dry conditions has exceeded even the levels seen during the 1976 hosepipe ban, with the company's main difficulty being how to move water through its network efficiently enough to keep pace.
Why has the drought reached this point?
The Environment Agency confirmed on 2 August 2026 that the Thames Valley, Wessex, and Hampshire and Isle of Wight regions were officially experiencing drought conditions, according to a national broadcaster's report. Separately, government drought reporting covering 7 to 13 August 2026 identified Clatworthy reservoir, which is operated by Wessex Water, as one of the reservoirs classed as exceptionally low for the time of year, based on official government drought summary data.
Wessex Water has reassured customers that they are not at risk of running out of water entirely, but says conservation measures now are necessary to reduce future risk.
"While we're not running out of water for essential use, our challenge has been moving water through the network quickly enough to meet these record levels of demand,"
said Jefferson.
"This also has an impact on our underground storage reservoirs, which normally replenish with treated water quickly."
The company reports it has invested more than £16 million in water supply infrastructure over the past three months, alongside other efforts including accelerated leak repairs and requests for larger users to reduce consumption.
"Hang up the hosepipe and allow the grass to grow brown, it's not dead its dormant,"
said Willoughby.
"Turning off the tap when you brush your teeth and keeping the car dirty [can also make a difference]."
"Its not all on our customers, we don't want them to do all the heavy lifting, we as a company need to do our bit so we have teams working around the clock to maintain supplies."
"We've increased the number of staff finding and fixing leaks but the dry and hot conditions make leakages even more challenging."
What happens next?
The restrictions become legally enforceable from 00:01 on Tuesday, 18 August 2026, as confirmed by the regional broadcaster's coverage. Wessex Water has indicated the ban is intended to safeguard supplies for the duration of the ongoing drought, marking the first such intervention the company has taken in half a century.
Key Facts
- Wessex Water's hosepipe ban takes effect at 00:01 on Tuesday, 18 August 2026, and is the company's first since 1976.
- The ban applies to roughly 1.4 million customers across Bath, Somerset, Dorset, Wiltshire and parts of Gloucestershire.
- Demand has averaged over 400 million litres per day, 30% above the seasonal average, with a record 449 million litres used on 11 July.
- The Environment Agency declared drought conditions in the Thames Valley, Wessex, and Hampshire and Isle of Wight on 2 August 2026.
- Wessex Water has invested more than £16 million in water supply infrastructure over the past three months.
