Thames Water marks 100 days in drought, with its hosepipe ban still in place

It is 100 days since the Environment Agency declared drought across London and the Thames Valley on 29 July. Thames Water's temporary use ban (hosepipe ban) remains in place for all customers (New Civil Engineer). Autumn rain has helped, but storage is still well below normal, and the company says restrictions will only lift after substantial rainfall.

56%

Source: Thames Water via New Civil Engineer ↗

What we know

• Spring and summer rain: between 1 March and 30 September, the region received 34% of the rainfall it had in the same period of 2024.
• Autumn rain: from 1 August to 31 October, rainfall was 80.8% of the long-term average, against 156.8% in the same period of 2024. The latest period was wetter, at 126% of average in London and 145% in the Thames Valley and Home Counties.
• Storage: Farmoor reservoir was at 76% against an average of 90%.
• Rivers and groundwater: river flows remain below normal. Groundwater ranges from below normal to exceptionally low.
• Leaks: Thames is repairing more than 1,000 leaks a week, "around 20% more than normal", and has 18% more leak repair staff than last year.

Julie Morton, head of water resources, said recovery "will take time, particularly when the ground is so dry". She said the forecast looks relatively dry for the first half of November (New Civil Engineer).

Background

Thames drought, 2025–26

1. 22 Jul 2025

   Hosepipe ban for OX, GL, SN and some RG postcodes

2. 27 Nov 2025

   2025 ban lifted after above-average rain

3. 23 Jul 2026

   Temporary use ban for all drinking-water customers

4. 29 Jul 2026

   EA moves Thames area into drought

5. 5 Nov 2026

   100 days in drought; ban still in place

Illustrative

This is the second consecutive year of restrictions. The 2025 ban covered only the OX, GL, SN, RG4, RG8 and RG9 postcode areas. It was lifted in November 2025, when Farmoor reached 90%, the average for the time of year (Thames Water). The 2026 ban, announced on 21 July, covers every drinking-water customer. Thames cited about 40% of average spring rainfall, three heatwaves, and demand around 7% above normal in London and 10% above in the Thames Valley (Thames Water).

The drought is not confined to Thames. On 29 July the Environment Agency moved more than half of England into drought, with England's July rainfall at 7% of the long-term average. Temporary use bans were then in force at Affinity, Anglian, Cambridge, Southern, South East, South West and Thames (Environment Agency).

What we don't know yet

Thames has not set a storage threshold or date for lifting the ban. It has also not said whether it expects to apply for drought permits or orders if the winter is dry.

What to watch

• Rainfall over November to February, and whether London storage closes the gap to its seasonal average.
• Any move from a temporary use ban to further drought measures, or alternatively a phased lifting.
• The Environment Agency's next drought status decisions for the Thames area.
• Leakage and burst data for the drought period in Thames's next regulatory returns.