South East Water lifted its hosepipe ban across Kent and Sussex on 5 February 2026, bringing an end to restrictions that had been in place since July 2025. The ban, which affected an estimated 1.4 million customers, was introduced following the driest spring in England since 1893 and record-breaking water demand.
The Temporary Use Ban (TUB) prohibited activities such as watering gardens, washing cars, cleaning patios, and filling swimming pools with hosepipes. After months of above-average winter rainfall, reservoir levels recovered sufficiently for the company to remove all restrictions.
Customers are advised to remain mindful of water use, particularly during the spring and summer months, as groundwater stores take longer to recover fully.
Has the South East Water hosepipe ban been lifted? (Current Status)
All hosepipe restrictions in Kent and Sussex were lifted with immediate effect at 09:00 on 5 February 2026. South East Water confirmed that there are no plans to reintroduce a ban in summer 2026, though the company continues to monitor supply levels closely.
Lifted (5 February 2026)
Kent and Sussex
High demand / dry weather
18 July 2025 – 5 February 2026
Key insights
- The ban was lifted suddenly, contrasting with previous longer bans, such as those seen in 2023.
- Expert comment from the University of Reading highlights structural water supply challenges in the South East.
- Users are actively seeking postcode-level verification tools to check current restrictions.
- Interest in comparing bans across Southern Water, Thames Water, and Anglian Water remains high.
- Winter 2025–2026 delivered above-average rainfall, enabling reservoirs and groundwater to recover.
- The Environment Agency moved the South East from “drought” to “recovery” status in January 2026.
Snapshot: South East Water Hosepipe Ban 2025–2026
| Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Utility | South East Water |
| Regions | Kent and Sussex |
| Restriction | Hosepipe use prohibited (Temporary Use Ban) |
| Start Date | 18 July 2025 |
| Lift Date | 5 February 2026 |
| Population Affected | Over 1.4 million customers |
| Official Source | South East Water official update |
| Ban type | Temporary Use Ban (Water Industry Regulations 2010) |
| Trigger | Driest spring since 1893; highest ever summer demand (680M litres/day) |
Is there a hosepipe ban in my area? How to check (Postcode Checker)
South East Water provides a postcode checker on its website under the “Water Latest” and “Water shortage and hosepipe bans” sections. Customers can enter their postcode to check whether their property is affected by any current or future restrictions.
Broadly, the ban covered parts of Kent — including Maidstone, Tunbridge Wells, Ashford, Folkestone, Dover, and parts of Medway — and Sussex, including Crawley, Horsham, East Grinstead, Haywards Heath, Bexhill-on-Sea, Hastings, and parts of Eastbourne. Some north Kent areas are served by other water companies, so checking the official South East Water postcode checker is recommended for accuracy.
What is the timeline of the South East Water hosepipe ban?
- Spring 2025 — Extremely dry spring in the South East; the driest since 1893. Higher-than-normal water demand in May–June.
- Early July 2025 — Water use peaked at around 680 million litres per day, the highest on record for that time of year for South East Water.
- 18 July 2025 — Temporary Use Ban (TUB) introduced for Kent and Sussex.
- 22 September 2025 — A Drought Permit was granted for the River Ouse, allowing modified abstractions to protect supplies.
- 17 October 2025 — Tighter restrictions applied to Sussex customers only, reflecting continued stress on the River Ouse catchment.
- 3 December 2025 — A Drought Order on the River Ouse replaced the Drought Permit, modifying how water was released from Ardingly Reservoir.
- January 2026 — The Environment Agency moved the South East from “drought” to “recovery” status.
- 5 February 2026 (09:00) — All hosepipe restrictions lifted with immediate effect.
Why was the South East Water hosepipe ban introduced?
The ban was triggered by a combination of extreme weather and high demand. The spring of 2025 was the driest recorded in England since 1893, leading to a rapid drop in raw water storage levels in reservoirs and groundwater sources. In early July 2025, daily water use reached 680 million litres, the highest ever recorded for that period by South East Water.
The company introduced the Temporary Use Ban to protect the environment and maintain reliable supplies for drinking and domestic use. The ban was not a general drought declaration, but a regulatory measure under the Water Industry (Temporary Bans on Use of Water) Regulations 2010.
Dr Jess Neumann, Associate Professor of Hydrology at the University of Reading, commented that the ban reflects increasing pressure on water resources driven by climate change and chaotic weather patterns. She emphasised that companies like South East Water are acting proactively, even without a formal drought declaration, and noted that the South East’s reliance on groundwater and aquifers means recovery can take months or years.
How does the South East Water ban compare to other UK hosepipe bans?
Thames Water hosepipe ban (2025)
Thames Water introduced a hosepipe ban in July 2025 for parts of Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire, and Berkshire, citing prolonged dry weather and low river and reservoir levels. The ban was lifted in early 2026 after above-average rainfall and the recovery of Farmoor Reservoir and Cotswold aquifers. Public messaging from Thames Water closely mirrored that of South East Water.
Southern Water
Southern Water did not introduce a region-wide hosepipe ban in 2025 comparable to South East Water or Thames Water. The company has implemented local drought measures and hosepipe bans in previous dry years, such as 2022, but in 2025 it focused on leakage reduction and customer messaging rather than a formal Temporary Use Ban.
Some areas in north Kent may be served by Thames Water or Southern Water rather than South East Water. Customers should use the South East Water postcode checker or visit the Southern Water official site and Thames Water official site for accurate, localised information.
Clarity: what is certain and what remains unclear
| Established information | Information that remains unclear |
|---|---|
| The ban has been lifted for the whole of Kent and Sussex. | The exact duration of the ban in days or weeks is not specified in official materials in a single figure. |
| Official confirmation comes from South East Water’s website. | Whether future bans are anticipated is not stated in official releases beyond summer 2026. |
| Expert comment from the University of Reading confirms the ban affected over 1.4 million people. | Specific postcode boundary details are not provided in a single downloadable file, requiring individual checks. |
Context: what does the ban mean for customers and the wider water system?
The sudden lifting of the ban suggests that winter rainfall levels improved reservoir and groundwater stores more quickly than anticipated. Official statements from South East Water confirmed that Ardingly Reservoir returned to full capacity by early 2026, while Arlington Reservoir recovered to about 83 per cent capacity. Soil saturation also improved, allowing aquifers to begin recharging.
Compared to the 2023 hosepipe ban, the 2025 ban appears shorter and more localised. However, Dr Jess Neumann’s analysis underscores that the South East’s water system faces structural pressures from climate change and increasing demand, meaning short-term recovery does not eliminate long-term risk. Customers are advised to remain mindful of water use and monitor updates from the company.
Sources and official commentary
“Hosepipe ban lifted with immediate effect. All restrictions in Kent and Sussex have been removed.”
— South East Water official update
“The announcement by South East Water to place more than one million people in Kent and Sussex under a hosepipe ban highlights the increasing pressures on our water systems.”
— University of Reading expert comment, July 2025
For the full official statement, see the South East Water hosepipe ban update page. The University of Reading expert comment provides further analysis from Dr Jess Neumann.
Summary: what to take away
South East Water lifted its hosepipe ban on 5 February 2026 after strong winter rainfall allowed reservoirs and groundwater stores to recover. The ban, which began on 18 July 2025, affected more than 1.4 million customers across Kent and Sussex due to record-high demand and the driest spring in over 130 years. While no immediate restrictions are planned for summer 2026, the company continues to monitor supplies closely. For more on UK environmental policy, see our article on the Manchester Clean Air Zone – Cancelled.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Southern Water have a hosepipe ban?
Southern Water did not introduce a region-wide hosepipe ban in 2025, though it has implemented local measures in previous dry years. Check their official site for current status.
Does Thames Water have a hosepipe ban?
Thames Water introduced a hosepipe ban in July 2025 for parts of Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire, and Berkshire, which was lifted in early 2026. Check their website for updates.
What does a hosepipe ban mean for customers?
Customers cannot use hosepipes for gardening, car washing, or recreational water use. Hand-held buckets or watering cans are usually permitted. The ban applies to attached hosepipes, not mains-fed sprinklers without a hosepipe.
Where can I find the official South East Water hosepipe ban update?
Visit southeastwater.co.uk and navigate to “Water Latest” or the “Updates” section for the most recent information.
How long did the South East Water hosepipe ban last in 2025–2026?
The ban was in effect from 18 July 2025 until 5 February 2026, a period of approximately six and a half months.
Is there a hosepipe ban in my area now?
As of 5 February 2026, all South East Water restrictions have been lifted. Check the South East Water postcode checker for any future updates.
What was banned under the Temporary Use Ban?
Watering gardens, washing cars, cleaning patios/windows/driveways, and filling swimming pools with a hosepipe were all prohibited.
Was a drought officially declared?
No official drought was declared for the South East, though the Environment Agency moved the area from “drought” to “recovery” in January 2026.
Why was the ban lifted in February 2026?
Above-average winter rainfall improved reservoir levels and groundwater stores. Ardingly Reservoir returned to full capacity, and Arlington Reservoir recovered to about 83%.
Will there be another hosepipe ban in summer 2026?
South East Water has stated there are no plans to reintroduce a ban in summer 2026, but continues to monitor supplies closely.
Freddie Harry Cooper Bennett is a staff writer for DailyPressUK.co.uk, covering UK news, politics, business and culture. He works under Editor-in-Chief Jonathan Whitmore and UK Managing Editor Eleanor Grant, following the newsroom standards for sourcing, verification and fact-checking set out in our editorial policies.