Anglian Water Hosepipe Ban 2025: Current Status and What to Expect

Introduction

As England faces its driest spring in over a century and record‐breaking early summer heat, many water suppliers—including Thames, Yorkshire, and South East Water—have imposed temporary hosepipe bans to protect dwindling supplies. Anglian Water, serving nearly 3 million households across East Anglia, including Norfolk, Suffolk, Cambridgeshire, and parts of Lincolnshire and Northamptonshire, has not yet introduced a ban. In this guide, we explain why Anglian remains exempt for now, outline its drought‐management approach, consider the triggers that could force a ban, and offer practical tips for customers to conserve water proactively.

1. No Hosepipe Ban Yet in the Anglian Region

Despite bans elsewhere, Anglian Water customers continue under normal water‐use rules. The company states it is “closely monitoring the situation” following bans in neighbouring regions but has confirmed no hosepipe ban is in place at present (LincsOnline).

2. Anglian Water’s Drought‐Management Strategy

Under its government‐approved Drought Plan, Anglian Water tracks key indicators—groundwater levels, river flows, reservoir stocks, and customer demand—against defined “trigger” thresholds. The plan’s staged response includes:

1. Normal Operations
   • Ongoing leak‑detection and repair programmes.
   • Investment in treatment works and network resilience.
2. Drought Alert
   • Voluntary “Save Our Water” campaigns.
   • Enhanced monitoring of abstraction and environmental flows.
3. Drought Warning
   • Targeted restrictions in hotspot areas (if minor triggers breached).
   • Stronger customer appeals for conservation.
4. Drought Emergency
   • Implementation of a Temporary Use Ban (TUB) if critical thresholds are crossed.

By adhering to this framework, Anglian Water aims to delay formal restrictions as long as possible.

3. Why Anglian Has Avoided a Ban So Far

• Groundwater Resilience: Around 75 % of Anglian’s supply comes from chalk aquifers and deep boreholes, which respond more slowly to dry spells than surface reservoirs.
• Customer Engagement: Early, intensive conservation messaging has already driven down per‐capita daily use from 150 L to 135 L, easing peak demand.
• Infrastructure Upgrades: Recent mains replacements and leak repairs have cut losses by 20 % since 2022.

These measures have maintained sufficient buffer stocks despite the exceptional weather.

4. What Could Trigger an Anglian Hosepipe Ban?

A TUB would be enforced if any of the following persistently occur:

• Aquifer Levels: Falls below the “drought threshold” in key chalk and gravel groundwater sources.
• River Flows: Sustained low flows in the Broads, Wensum, and other chalk streams.
• Demand Surges: Daily use exceeding sustainable abstraction rates by more than 10 % for a week.
• Reservoir Stocks: Backup surface reservoirs—such as Grafham and Rutland—dropping below 80 % capacity.

If these triggers align, voluntary measures alone will no longer suffice and a ban will be declared.

5. How You Can Help Now

Even without a ban, reducing water use supports long‑term security:

• Shorten Showers: A one‐minute cut saves about 10 L per shower.
• Turn Off Taps: While brushing teeth or washing dishes.
• Harvest Rainwater: Fit water butts to downpipes for garden use.
• Fix Leaks Promptly: A dripping tap wastes over 5 L each day.
• Full Loads Only: Run dishwashers and washing machines with full loads.

Collective customer action can delay or prevent the need for a hosepipe ban in our region.

Conclusion

As of mid‐July 2025, Anglian Water has not imposed a hosepipe ban, thanks to robust groundwater supplies, infrastructure investment, and effective demand management (Anglian Water Services). However, with the drought intensifying, a ban could be declared later this summer if aquifer levels and river flows fall below critical thresholds. By adopting water‐saving habits now—short showers, rainwater harvesting, and swift leak repairs—Anglian customers can help safeguard supplies and potentially avoid formal restrictions.

Top 10 Questions & Answers

1. Q: Has Anglian Water imposed a hosepipe ban?
   A: No—there is currently no ban in the Anglian Water region (Anglian Water Services).
2. Q: Why hasn’t Anglian introduced a ban when others have?
   A: Reliance on resilient groundwater sources and early conservation efforts have maintained sufficient supply.
3. Q: What would trigger a hosepipe ban?
   A: Falls in aquifer and river levels below drought thresholds, alongside sustained high demand.
4. Q: How can I check my water‐use status?
   A: Monitor Anglian Water’s drought dashboard online and sign up for email/SMS alerts.
5. Q: What voluntary measures are recommended?
   A: Shorten showers, turn off taps when idle, collect rainwater, and fix leaks promptly.
6. Q: Are drip‐irrigation systems allowed if a ban is declared?
   A: Yes—mains‐fed drip or trickle systems with pressure‐reduction valves and timers remain permitted.
7. Q: Will businesses be exempt?
   A: Only essential services (e.g., fire‐fighting) are exempt; most non‐essential commercial hosepipe uses would be banned.
8. Q: How much does the average customer use?
   A: About 135 L per person per day currently, down from 150 L before conservation appeals.
9. Q: What long‐term investments has Anglian made?
   A: Upgrades to treatment works, network reinforcement, and aggressive leak‐reduction programmes.
10. Q: Where can I find Anglian’s full Drought Plan?
    A: On Anglian Water’s website under “Our Plans & Publications,” which details trigger thresholds and response stages.