Anglian Water hosepipe ban for East of England

Anglian Water has implemented a temporary hosepipe ban in the East of England due to record-breaking heat and low rainfall. This is the first such restriction for the company in a decade, aimed at preserving water supplies.
Why it matters
It reflects the increasing pressure of climate change on infrastructure and resource management in the UK.
Image source, EPA/Shutterstock Image caption, Anglian Water has produced 30% more water than usual this summer due to hot, dry weather
Anglian Water has introduced its first hosepipe ban in a decade due to "unrelenting" hot and dry conditions across the East of England.
The restrictions officially begin at 01:00 BST on Saturday, but customers are being asked to limit their water use immediately to "help protect water supplies".
On Thursday, Cambridge Water also announced its first hosepipe ban for 30 years as the UK entered its third heatwave of 2026 .
Anglian Water said it had been "a very difficult decision" to bring in the temporary ban, but that it was necessary to protect customer supplies as well as "our region's precious environment".
What does a hosepipe ban mean for the UK's driest region?
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