Heavy downpours fell in parts of Yorkshire on 27 August 2025, and forecasts suggest more rainfall across the county in the following days, Yorkshire Water said on 28 August 2025. The water company said the rain would not be enough to remove its hosepipe restrictions, which remain in place.
Yorkshire Water reported that reservoir stocks stood at 35.8%, well below the 73.4% average for the time of year. It said stocks have been decreasing since late January because of dry and warm weather, and that Yorkshire experienced its driest spring in 132 years. August was expected to receive well below long-term average rainfall, which the company said would be the seventh consecutive month of below average rainfall. Groundwater stocks in East Yorkshire are also being affected by the prolonged dry weather, it said.
Dave Kaye, director of water at Yorkshire Water, said the incoming rain was likely to be taken up by plants and parched ground rather than reaching reservoirs.
"Hosepipe restrictions will remain in place until reservoir stocks have recovered, this could extend into the winter, as we are planning for the short-term and to ensure we have adequate supplies heading into the spring and summer of 2026."
The company said the restrictions will stay in place following any wet weather the region experiences in the coming days. It also said customer efforts to reduce water usage, its work to reduce leakage, and the drought orders and permits in place, as well as others it has applied for, are helping to reduce demand and protect water stocks.
Why it matters for households
Households in Yorkshire served by Yorkshire Water remain subject to hosepipe restrictions despite the downpours, and the company says these will stay until reservoir stocks recover, which it says could extend into the winter. The company has not reported in this announcement any change to the scope of the restrictions or to the penalties for breaching them. Its position is that the rainfall will not be enough to lift them, and that supplies are being managed with a view to spring and summer 2026. Households in East Yorkshire are also affected by falling groundwater stocks, according to the company. General guidance on flooding and on storms and snow is available in the site's guides, and where flood water threatens a property, the guide to turning off gas, electricity and water before a flood sets out the steps involved.
What happens next
Yorkshire Water says more rainfall is forecast across Yorkshire in the coming days, and that hosepipe restrictions will remain in place until reservoir stocks have recovered, a point it says could extend into the winter. No date for lifting the restrictions has been reported.
Sources (1)
- yorkshirewater.com, yorkshirewater.com
