Thames Water hosepipe ban to come into force across West Berkshire next week

Thames Water has announced that it will implement a hosepipe ban from next week.

The water company had said earlier this month that it expected to implement the temporary use ban or TUB in the near future and today (Wednesday) has said it will come into force next Wednesday (August 24)

From that date access to water will be restricted for millions of people across the entire Thames Water supply area, including large parts of West Berkshire.

The ban is being put in place following the “driest July on record” in a year that has seen “below

average rainfall in 10 of the last 12 months”.

No end date to the ban has yet been announced, with Thames Water – which supplies 2.6 billion litres of water every day – saying it will remain in place “until further notice”.

The announcement comes after the first rain for weeks deluged large parts of the district earlier this week, following an unprecedented hot spell.

From next Wednesday, customers will be prohibited from using a hosepipe to water domestic gardens and plants, clean non-commercial vehicles and boats or wash windows, paths, and patios.

The rules also prevent customers from filling or maintaining paddling or swimming pools, ornamental fountains, domestic ponds or hot tubs, unless they are used for religious, medical or veterinary purposes.

Water fights and using water slides with a hosepipe are also banned.

The ban does not apply to mains water that is held in a bucket or watering can, or water that is not sourced from the mains. This includes grey water, rainwater from a water butt and water from a private borehole.

Blue Badge holders or customers on Thames Water's Vulnerable Customers list are exempt from aspects of the ban, and can still use a hosepipe to water gardens, fill or maintain ponds and clean vehicles, walls, windows, paths, and patios. Other exemptions apply which are listed on the Thames Water website.

Those who do not observe the hosepipe ban could face a fine of up to £1,000.

Parts of North Hampshire, including Kingsclere, have already had a ban introduced.

Southern Water introduced its TUB on Friday, August 5, to urgently reduce the demand on the River Test and River Itchen where the company sources most of its fresh water supply.

It is the first hosepipe ban in the region in a decade.