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What is a Temporary Use Ban?
A Temporary Use Ban (TUB), also known as a hosepipe ban, is a formal restriction placed on both public and domestic water use. These bans are enforced to reduce water consumption and preserve local supplies during periods of prolonged hot, dry weather.
Why are wholesalers applying TUBs?
Recent record-breaking heatwaves and significantly reduced rainfall have caused water levels in UK rivers and reservoirs to drop drastically. As demand for water increases, wholesalers are implementing TUBs to prevent further supply disruptions.
To conserve water, wholesalers are asking domestic users to reduce their consumption by over 10% and encouraging business customers, especially those with high usage, to minimise water use where practical.
Does it affect businesses?
Yes. While TUBs are generally targeted at domestic use, some restrictions apply to businesses, particularly when using hosepipes for non-essential tasks like watering gardens or cleaning external areas. Do’s and don’ts for how TUB’s apply to businesses vary between Wholesalers. If a TUB is not saving enough water and dry weather prolongs, wholesalers may need to add further water restrictions for non-essential business use too.
A drought order would prevent companies and local authorities from using hoses for non-essential operating processes, such as: cleaning windows, watering plants and filling fountains and swimming pools. It would also stop golf courses using mains water to keep their grass green, although it would not prevent them using water from lakes or boreholes on the courses.
Businesses are encouraged to reduce usage where practical.
In the interest of saving water, business customers should still play their part by reducing their water use where practical. For more information on reducing business water consumption, read our blog post on Preparing for dry weather in 2025.
Wholesaler TUB updates – July 2025
Wholesalers are encouraging businesses with heavy water consumption to minimise usage during peak hours. For up-to-date information on TUBs in your region, check the following wholesaler updates below.
South East Water
TUB in force from Friday 11 July 2025
- Area affected: South East region (exact zones on their site)
If you would like to contact South East Water directly about the restrictions and how they may affect your business, you can call their non-household customer line on 0333 000 0018. More information and FAQs can be found here.
Thames Water
TUB in force from Tuesday 22 July 2025
- Areas affected:
- All OX postcodes
- All GL postcodes
- All SN postcodes
- All RG4, RG8, and RG9 postcodes
If you would like to contact Thames Water directly, you can call their drought helpline on 0800 072 1083. More information and FAQs can be found here.
Yorkshire Water
TUB in force from Friday 11 July 2025
- Area affected: All Yorkshire Water regions
If you would like to contact Yorkshire Water directly about the Temporary Usage Ban, you can call 03451 242424 and select option 3. More information and FAQs can be found here.
