Southern Water hosepipe ban starts for Hampshire and Isle of Wight customers

Southern Water introduced hosepipe restrictions covering its customers in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight on 10 July 2026, according to the Consumer Council for Water (CCW)¹. The company's own pages state that a hosepipe ban is in place in Hampshire and on the Isle of Wight².

The CCW, which published its round-up on 10 July, said the restrictions were introduced "to reduce demand for water, which rose significantly during repeated heatwaves and prolonged dry weather over the summer"¹. It said hosepipes "can use as much as 1,000 litres of water an hour"¹. Southern Water said the warmest spring on record, followed by a record-breaking heatwave, had left river levels 25% lower than expected for the time of year, and that the River Test had lost a third of its water within the last month, putting pressure on its ability to treat and supply water².

The CCW listed ten companies operating temporary use bans (TUBs) as of Monday 14 September, with the following start dates¹:

Southern Water said customers on its Priority Services Register with medical or mobility needs, including Blue Badge holders and those on its WaterSure tariff, are exempt². It said a hosepipe ban stops customers using a hosepipe for non-essential activities including watering gardens, filling paddling pools, hot tubs, swimming pools, ponds or fountains, and washing cars, patios or windows². Water can still be used for drinking, cooking, showering and washing clothes, and a watering can or bucket can be used². The company said customers will not receive a discount on their bill because of the ban².

On enforcement, Southern Water said water companies can ask customers to follow a hosepipe ban under the Flood and Water Management Act 2010, and that the Act gives powers to fine customers up to £1,000 if they ignore it. It said it aims to communicate first, but enforcement may follow for repeated or serious breaches².

Why it matters for households

The restrictions apply to Southern Water's household and business customers in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight from 10 July¹. Households in the area cannot use a hosepipe for the non-essential activities listed by the company, though watering cans, buckets and water not from the mains, such as rainwater from a water butt or recycled greywater, can still be used³. Southern Water lists exemptions, including for newly laid turf and newly planted plants, which can be watered with a hosepipe for 28 days, and for ponds with fish, which should be kept topped up to a minimum level to safeguard the fish². It said non-commercial allotments and vegetable patches cannot be watered with a hosepipe, with an exemption where edible produce is grown for personal consumption and watering with a watering can is not reasonably practicable². The company said it will remove the ban as soon as it can, which can only happen when there is enough water in reservoirs, rivers and underground aquifers to meet demand².

What happens next

Southern Water has not given a date for lifting the restrictions, saying it will let customers know when the ban is lifted². The CCW's round-up records the position as of 14 September, when ten companies were operating temporary use bans¹.