Thames Water has announced a temporary hosepipe ban affecting several areas in Gloucestershire, including Cirencester and surrounding parts of the Cotswolds. This measure comes in response to record-breaking hot weather and sustained high water demand.
The restrictions will take effect at 00:01 BST on Thursday, July 23. Under the ban, customers in the designated areas are prohibited from using hosepipes for non-essential activities such as watering gardens, washing cars, filling paddling pools, or topping up hot tubs.
Thames Water urges residents to begin adhering to the restrictions immediately, ahead of the official start date, to help conserve supplies. Essential water use—such as for drinking, cooking, hygiene, and washing—remains permitted. Additionally, using buckets and watering cans is allowed, and exemptions apply for health and safety needs or mobility issues.
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The affected areas include Cirencester and nearby villages along the River Churn, Fairford and its neighboring villages (such as Quenington, Coln St Aldwyns, Hatherop, Eastleach Turville, and Fyfield), Moreton-in-Marsh, Bourton-on-the-Water, Stow-on-the-Wold, Tetbury, and Kemble.
Thames Water reports that water consumption across London and the Thames Valley has surged by approximately 10% above normal levels, with London’s demand roughly 7% higher than usual. This increased usage equates to an extra 100 million litres daily—enough to supply all the households in Manchester.
During peak times, water is being used faster than it can be treated and distributed, placing significant pressure on the network and local supplies. To address this, Thames Water is activating the next phase of its drought plan to preserve resources and protect the environment.
Nevil Muncaster, Director of Strategic Water Resources at Thames Water, emphasized the necessity of the ban. “We would not take this step unless it was essential to safeguard water supplies for everyone and the environment. The combination of heatwaves and a dry spring and summer has led to sustained high demand,” he said.
Muncaster thanked customers for already reducing water use and stressed the company’s commitment to maintaining supply. “Our teams are working around the clock to keep water flowing, fix leaks, and assist customers. We will monitor the situation closely and lift restrictions as soon as it is safe.”
This year, the Thames Water region has received only 40% of its average spring rainfall and faced three separate heatwaves. July has seen no rain in the Thames catchment, while temperatures have repeatedly hit 34°C or higher — surpassing records from 1976 and 2020.
Although Thames Water plans for dry spells and higher summer demand, the unprecedented scale of this year’s heat and water use is stretching resources to their limits. The hosepipe ban applies to all drinking water customers within Thames Water’s supply, excluding waste-only customers and those served by other water companies.