Temporary Use Ban FAQs

A TUB, or temporary use ban, restricts the use of a hosepipe of any attachment to a hosepipe such as a pressure washer, sprinkler, irrigation system etc.  

It is prohibited for the following purposes:

1. Watering a garden using a hosepipe. 
2. Cleaning a private motor vehicle (or trailer) using a hosepipe. 
3. Watering plants on domestic or other non-commercial premises using a hosepipe. 
4. Cleaning a private leisure boat using a hosepipe. 
5. Filling or maintaining a domestic swimming or paddling pool. 
6. Drawing water, using a hosepipe, for domestic recreational use (e.g. to fill a hot tub). 
7. Filling or maintaining a domestic pond using a hosepipe. 
8. Filling or maintaining an ornamental fountain. 
9. Cleaning walls or windows of domestic premises using a hosepipe. 
10. Cleaning paths or patios using a hosepipe. 
11. Cleaning other artificial outdoor surfaces using a hosepipe.  

You can do all the other activities, apart from numbers 5 and 8, using a bucket or watering can. You can also use collected rainwater, reused household water or water from your own supply, such as a borehole.

It comes after the Environment Agency placed half of England, including Essex and Suffolk, in drought on Wednesday 29 July 2026.

This follows months of prolonged dry weather; July has seen little to no rainfall across East Anglia, with multiple heatwaves and the Environment Agency is starting to see more impact on the environment. Soils are extremely dry affecting groundwater sources, river flows are low and forecasts are for the hot and dry conditions to continue into August.    

The weather has led to an increased demand for water from customers as they try to stay cool and hydrated. This has impacted reservoir levels, with Hanningfield and Abberton sitting below average for this time of year.   

Water resources remain under significant pressure, with usage exceeding natural recovery levels. While our teams are operating around the clock to treat and deliver additional water, repair leaks, and balance supplies across the network, we cannot do it alone. By using water wisely this summer, customers can play an important role in helping protect this essential resource. 

To all customers supplied with mains water by Essex & Suffolk Water in Essex, Suffolk, part of Norfolk and the London Boroughs of Barking, Dagenham and Redbridge.

The temporary restrictions will stay in place until water supplies have recovered sufficiently and conditions return closer to normal.

While they are likely to remain in effect over the summer period, we won’t keep them in place longer than necessary. We will keep the situation under regular review and share updates on our website and social media channels. 

The restrictions will not apply as follows: 

Health and Safety

Where the use of water is required to:  

• remove or minimise a risk to human or animal health or safety; or  
• prevent or control the spread of disease.  

Welfare of Animals

Where the use of water is to protect the welfare of animals, including fish and other aquatic species. 
 

Blue badge holders or people with mobility issues  

The following exceptions are also permitted: 

Trees and hedgerows

Watering standard trees, saplings, whips and hedging planted within the preceding three years where hand watering or non-potable water use is not reasonably practicable.

Newly laid turf and newly sown grass seed

Watering newly laid turf or newly sown grass seed for up to 28 days after laying or sowing where hand watering is not reasonably practicable.   

Food production

Watering food crops at domestic premises and private allotments where hand watering is not reasonably practicable.   

Drip irrigation

Use of approved drip or trickle irrigation systems fitted with pressure reduction valves and timers which apply water directly to the root zone without spray application.   

Commercial cleaning

Use of water, including through a hosepipe, by commercial operators providing vehicle washing; boat cleaning; window cleaning; patio cleaning; and surface cleaning as a service to customers.   

Biosecurity

Use of a hosepipe where necessary to prevent or control the spread of invasive non-native species. 

If any of the above exceptions apply to you, you do not need to apply or contact us to ask for permission.

Only customers who are Blue Badge holders or those with mobility issues, who are unable to use a watering can, are exempt from the restrictions.

 It applies to everyone else.

The exemption applies to people who have mobility issues preventing them from being able to lift and carry a watering can, to carry out essential garden watering.

Blue badge holders are within this category and are therefore exempt. 

No. If someone else in the household is able to use a watering can, please ask them to do so.

The exemption is for Blue Badge holders who live alone and are unable to use a watering can, or when other household members are unable to assist.

Over recent months, our operational teams have worked 24/7 to maximise water production and supply, moving water around the network to the places in greatest need, and they have fixed more leaks as quickly as possible. 

In the first six months of 2026 we have fixed 3,533 leaks and bursts across Essex and Suffolk. Our teams are prepared and ready to respond quickly when leaks and bursts occur. 

We’re also continuing to invest in our network and infrastructure, building further resilience against leaks and bursts, with a £66 million investment in replacing 225km of pipe in our network, between 2025 and 2030, as part of our Big Upgrade. 

In the first six months of 2026, we repaired 3,533 leaks or bursts.

The hot and dry weather has made the ground extremely dry. When the ground dries out, it moves and the pipes we have buried underground, get caught in the hardened ground and it loosens fixtures and fittings, and sometimes creates cracks in the pipe.  

We can't predict where or when this will happen, all we can do is react when it does.  

All of our teams, including additional temporary teams, are working hard to make repairs and get to the next job.  

When a leak is reported we always send a tech out to assess the situation, but we do have to prioritise some repairs to make sure we're protecting as much of our network, and supply to customers, as possible.  

Our teams are experts in making sure our customers have water when and where they need it. 

We are constantly monitoring our supplies and managing our stock levels and this is why we know this is the right time to put the Temporary Use Ban in place.

It has been 29 years since we last put a Temporary Use Ban in place and that is in part due to our teams’ expertise, but also due to our investment in the expansion of Abberton Reservoir to give the area more water provision for generations to come.  

Last week we appealed to our customers to show restraint with their water use and also warned that we couldn’t rule out a Temporary Use Ban.

It is not a decision we took lightly. But it comes after months of prolonged dry weather, warm temperatures and four successive heat waves which have had a significant impact on river flows and the environment, and in response, the Environment Agency has declared a drought for half of England, including East Anglia.  

Using a hosepipe can use a huge amount of water really quickly.

Each person uses approximately 134 litres of water per day, yet a hosepipe can use 1,000 litres an hour if used consistently. 

You can still use water in activities that you normally would, such as watering your plants and garden, we just ask that you use alternative methods, such as a watering can. 

Our reservoir levels are drawn down more quickly by higher demand for water by our customers and demand has been exceptionally high this year.

The amount of additional consumption we are seeing at the moment is the equivalent to supplying an extra Chelmsford! 

On Friday 29 June 592 million litres of water was used by Essex & Suffolk Water customers in a 24-hour period. That’s enough to fill 237 Olympic sized swimming pools.

Yes, there are certain activities, such as flushing water mains, which has been suspended since we issued our appeal for restraint.  

We have also suspended non-essential maintenance works and placed as many technicians as possible on the finding and fixing of leaks.  

Water availability is heavily dependent on weather conditions, and the recent period of hot, dry weather has placed additional pressure on supplies.

Although rainfall will help, a prolonged period of sustained wet weather is needed before rivers, reservoirs and underground water sources can recover.

Essex and Suffolk have experienced exceptionally low rainfall, receiving only around 3% of the long-term average during July. This has reduced river levels and contributed to lower reservoir storage. 

Ground conditions are also significantly drier than normal, meaning any rainfall is more likely to be absorbed by the soil before it can replenish groundwater reserves. 

At the same time, warmer temperatures have increased water use as customers seek ways to keep cool and stay hydrated. As a result, reservoir levels at Hanningfield and Abberton remain below seasonal norms.

If you have a water meter, using less water could help lower your bill because you only pay for the water you use.

If you don’t have a meter, your charges will stay the same.

If you're thinking of switching to a meter, use our water usage calculator to estimate how much your bill would be if you switched to a meter. 

Anyone who has a licence to fill a swimming pool, will receive a refund on a pro rata basis.

There are currently only a limited number of data centres operating within our area.

As the restrictions apply solely to household water use, data centres are not affected by these restrictions. In addition, some data centres obtain their water through their own Environment Agency abstraction licences rather than Essex & Suffolk Water.

The Temporary Use Ban applies to domestic households only, but we are encouraging businesses and non-household water users to reduce the amount of water they use.

We have an enforcement process and any person who contravenes the prohibition may be guilty of an offence and liable on summary conviction to a fine of up to £1,000. 

In some cases, people may be unaware of the restrictions or may have a valid exemption that allows them to continue certain activities. 

If you have concerns, please contact us and we'll review this.