Hosepipe Ban Now in Force for Newham as Thames Water Tackles Dry Summer Squeeze
Residents across Newham are being told to put down their hosepipes this week, as a temporary use ban introduced by Thames Water takes effect. The restriction covers the roughly 10.1 million customers the company supplies across London, the Thames Valley and the surrounding home counties, including households and businesses right across our borough, so I wanted to set out what it actually means for you.
Why now?
Thames Water says the ban follows an exceptionally dry spring and a run of summer heatwaves that have pushed demand for water to unusually high levels while rainfall has stayed well below normal. The company reports its region has seen only around 40% of average rainfall this year, alongside a record number of days at or above 34°C. Together, these conditions have put sustained pressure on rivers, reservoirs and the wider supply network serving east London.
Nevil Muncaster, Thames Water’s director of strategic water resources, said the company would not have taken the step unless it was necessary to protect supplies for both customers and the environment.
What you can’t do
For as long as the ban is in place, using a hosepipe or pressure washer for the following is not allowed:
- Watering gardens, lawns or allotments
- Filling or topping up paddling pools, swimming pools or hot tubs
- Running sprinklers or jet washers
- Washing cars, patios, driveways, windows or other outdoor surfaces
What you can still do
The ban doesn’t mean cutting out gardening or car-washing altogether — it just means changing how it’s done. You can still:
- Water plants and gardens using a watering can
- Use water stored in a water butt
- Wash a car with a bucket and sponge
- Reuse water from cooking or rinsing food to water plants
Who’s exempt
A limited number of customers and uses are exempt from the ban, including those with health and safety needs, animal welfare requirements (pets, livestock and fish), certain business activities, watering of food crops and some newly planted trees, and customers who can’t reasonably adjust their water use because of a disability or medical condition. Thames Water’s wastewater-only customers are also unaffected. Full details are available on the Thames Water exemptions page.
How long will it last?
There’s no fixed end date. Thames Water says it will keep monitoring water levels and conditions across the region and will lift the restrictions once conditions allow. The company has also flagged that a legal notice underpinning the ban includes a representation deadline, though it says it will keep reviewing objections while the ban remains active.
The bigger picture for the network
Alongside asking customers to cut back, Thames Water says it is repairing more than 750 leaks a week and has committed roughly £20 billion over the next five years to upgrading its network, part of what it describes as the biggest overhaul of its infrastructure in 150 years. The company, which is reported to be carrying around £20 billion in debt, has faced sustained criticism in the past over its record on leakage, and some of that scrutiny has resurfaced locally as this ban takes hold. I think residents are right to expect that investment in fixing leaks keeps pace with what’s being asked of households.
Newham isn’t alone: similar restrictions are already in force at other suppliers across the south and east of England, including Southern Water, Cambridge Water, Affinity Water, Anglian Water and South East Water, reflecting how widespread this summer’s dry conditions have been.
What to do next
If you’re not sure whether your water is supplied by Thames Water, you can check using the Find Your Supplier tool. Thames Water is also encouraging households to check their usage and pick up water-saving tips via its water saving hub, where some customers can also earn rewards for cutting consumption.
