South West Water imposes hosepipe restrictions in Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly

South West Water has put temporary restrictions on hosepipe use in Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly from Saturday 8 August 2026, Cornwall Council has said¹. The council said this follows one of the driest periods in recent years, with rainfall across the South West well below seasonal averages over many months, and that the Environment Agency has declared half of England, including the South West, in drought¹.

Under the restrictions, hosepipes should not be used for watering gardens, washing cars, patios and boats, hot tubs, or filling swimming and paddling pools, according to the council. Water can still be used as normal for drinking, hygiene, washing and cooking¹. The council directs residents to a dedicated area of South West Water's website for full details of the temporary restrictions, exceptions and water saving advice¹.

The Consumer Council for Water (CCW) records that South West Water's restrictions cover all of its customers across Devon, Cornwall, parts of Dorset and Somerset and the Isles of Scilly, in force from 8 August². As of Monday 14 September, ten water companies were operating temporary use bans, CCW said, introduced to reduce demand for water, which rose significantly during repeated heatwaves and prolonged dry weather over the summer². CCW said a hosepipe can use as much as 1,000 litres of water an hour².

Restrictions elsewhere began earlier. CCW lists South East Water customers in Kent from 3 July and in Sussex, Surrey, Hampshire and Berkshire from 25 July; Southern Water customers in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight from 10 July; Anglian Water from 11 July; Cambridge Water from 17 July; Affinity Water's Central region from 17 July and East region from 17 August; Thames Water from 23 July; Essex and Suffolk Water from 3 August; Wessex Water from 18 August; and Bristol Water from 27 August².

Essex & Suffolk Water, which introduced its ban at 00:01 on Monday 3 August 2026, said the restriction remains in force because prolonged dry weather has put pressure on water supplies and the environment, and that Hanningfield and Abberton reservoirs were at a combined average of 44%³. The company said demand fell by around seven per cent after the ban began, and that combined reservoir storage ended August at 52%, with 43mm of rain during the month, 71% of the long-term average for August⁵. It said it was still too early to lift restrictions⁵.

Why it matters for households

Households in Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly supplied by South West Water are affected from 8 August 2026, and the restrictions apply to domestic use of hosepipes and attachments such as sprinklers and pressure washers¹. The council lists garden watering, car, patio and boat washing, hot tubs and the filling of swimming and paddling pools as uses that should stop, while normal use for drinking, hygiene, washing and cooking continues¹. The detail of exceptions sits with South West Water, which the council points to for full terms¹. For Essex & Suffolk Water customers, the company lists exemptions including Blue Badge holders and people with reduced mobility who are unable to use a watering can, and says customers do not need to apply where an exception applies³. It also states that other activities can be done with a bucket or watering can, and that collected rainwater, reused household water or water from a private supply such as a borehole can be used³.

Separately, Cornwall Council issued summer health advice, including that young children, older adults and people with underlying health conditions are at increased risk of heat exhaustion and heatstroke, and that people should try to keep out of the sun between 11am and 3pm when UV rays are strongest¹. It advises checking on neighbours, friends and loved ones who might need extra support¹.

What happens next

No end date for the South West Water restrictions has been reported. Essex & Suffolk Water said it is reviewing conditions all the time and will lift its restrictions as soon as it is right to do so, and that it is focused on ensuring enough water is available for next year⁵. CCW's chief executive said water companies have to step up the pace in adapting their infrastructure².

The site's hosepipe bans guide explains how temporary use bans work, and the current situation page tracks where restrictions apply in England. Households can check the rules on what you can and cannot do, guidance on watering the garden, allotment and new lawn and on paddling pools, ponds and car washing, and the water shortage and hosepipe ban checklist. The stages guide sets out how drought is declared in England, and the heatwaves and drought hub carries the wider household guidance.