South Staffs Water asks customers to cut non-essential water use to avoid a hosepipe ban

South Staffs Water asked all of its customers on 14 July 2026 to use water for essential purposes only, saying that record demand during prolonged hot, dry weather could force it to introduce temporary restrictions such as a hosepipe ban across its supply region¹.

The company said its customers typically use around 330 million litres of water a day, but that demand in recent weeks had exceeded 415 million litres a day, an increase of 26%¹. It described that as the equivalent of an extra 800,000 baths every day and said the level of demand could not be sustained for a prolonged period¹. It said local water resources were under significant pressure, and that during periods of extreme demand water can be used faster than it can be treated and moved around the network, which can lead to low pressure and, in some cases, interruptions to supply¹.

The company said it had not had water restrictions in its area for decades and that it was spending £702m over the next five years to upgrade water services¹. Its leakage teams are working additional hours, and it said every reported leak is assessed as quickly as possible, with repairs prioritised on how much water is being lost, the risk to supply to wider communities and the work needed to carry out the repair safely¹.

The company asked customers to avoid all non-essential water use, including allowing lawns to go brown, avoiding washing cars and using a watering can only where essential in the garden¹. It said that customers who find it difficult to carry a watering can may use a hosepipe as sparingly as possible, and that shorter showers and fewer baths can also make a big difference¹. It said temporary hosepipe bans have already been introduced in other parts of England, and that restrictions may become necessary in its region if demand remains at the very high levels seen over the past week¹.

Why it matters for households

The request covers all households in South Staffs Water's supply region and took effect with the company's statement on 14 July 2026¹. No start or end date for restrictions has been given; the company said only that they may become necessary if demand stays high¹. The practical effect for households is that the company has asked for non-essential use to stop now, with the stated aim of protecting supplies and reducing the risk of a temporary ban. The company's own guidance on what counts as non-essential, and its exception for people who cannot easily carry a watering can, are set out above¹. The water shortage and hosepipe ban checklist and the guide to how temporary use bans work set out what these restrictions involve, and saving water at home when supplies are low covers household measures. The company has not reported any supply interruptions at the time of its statement, only the risk of low pressure and interruption if demand continues¹.

What happens next

South Staffs Water said it will continue producing drinking water and fixing leaks, and that restrictions may become necessary if demand remains at the very high levels seen over the past week¹. No date has been given for a decision on a hosepipe ban, and no other timetable has been reported¹.