Hosepipe ban: Full list of UK areas facing new restrictions

Water restrictions grow

Essex and Suffolk Water said it was the first time it had imposed such measures since 1997.

The restrictions take effect immediately and will be enforced from Monday 3 August, with the company blaming a sustained run of dry weather after the ongoing UK heatwave and record-breaking temperatures left soils parched and river flows low.

It joins Anglian Water, Affinity Water, Cambridge Water and Thames Water, who have all confirmed similar measures. As Metro reported, customers are using an extra 29 million litres a day.

Hosepipe ban: the full list of areas affected

Essex

• Barking
• Basildon
• Brentwood
• Chelmsford
• Hanningfield
• Langford
• Romford
• Southend
• Tilbury

Suffolk

• Barsham
• Great Yarmouth
• Lowestoft
• Southwold
• Walpole

The ban applies to all domestic hosepipe use, including watering gardens, washing cars, cleaning paths and filling paddling pools or fountains. Reservoir levels at Hanningfield and Abberton are sitting at a combined 69%, below average for the time of year.

"This isn't a decision we've taken lightly, but by reducing non-essential water use, together we can help protect our rivers and wildlife while safeguarding water supplies through the hot, dry weeks ahead."

Essex and Suffolk Water

Households have been urged to start cutting back now, ahead of Monday's enforcement, with half of England officially in drought after the fourth heatwave of the summer saw temperatures top 35C.