IWNL Water Supply Areas Across Southern & Eastern England - Temporary Hosepipe Ban

INDEPENDENT WATER NETWORKS LTD

Water Industry Act 1991 - Temporary Ban On Water Use

Independent Water Networks Ltd (IWNL) gives notice that, pursuant to sections 76 and 76A–C of the Water Industry Act 1991, the following uses of water supplied by IWNL are restricted.

This notice, and further details concerning the prohibitions, current drought and water efficiency advice may be found on IWNL website at: https://www.iwnl.co.uk/homeowners/drought-measures/

Water use restrictions will start at 00:01 on 17th July 2026 and continue until further notification. The restriction applies in the areas of supply of Archers Court Road (South) (CT16), Archers Court Road A256 (CT16), Biggins Wood, Folkestone (CT19), Brook Park West (CO16), Ashdon Road (CB10), Barnfield College, Luton (LU3), Braintree Road (CM6), Chicken Farm (CO16), Broadwater Road (AL7), Brooklands College (KT13), Brox Road (KT16), Bullen's Green Lane (AL4), Clifford Smith Drive (CM6), Comet Way (AL10), East of Stevenage (SG2), Folkestone Seafront (CT20), Foots Farm (CO15), Garlick's Arch (GU23), Grange Farm (HP3), Frinton Road (CO16), Grays Lane (SG5), Hadham Road (Phase 1) (CM23), Hamilton Lodge (CO7), Harwich Valley (CO12), Heath Lane, Codicote (SG4), Heatherwood Hospital (SL5), High Road, Thornwood (CM16), Inkerman House (HP15), Kings Langley (WD4), Land West of Hall Road (CM22), Long Chaulden (HP1), Lytton Way (SG1), Manor Farm, East Lane (KT24), Mill Road, Henham (CM22), Nessie's Avenue (UB3), Newmarket Road (Phase 3), Royston (SG8), North Road (SG1), Oughton Head Lane (SG5), Regents Gate (GU25), Shephall View (SG1), Stansted Road (Parcel B) (CM22), Stocks Lane (CM15), Long Road (CO11), Low Road, Dovercourt (CO12), The Hyde, Colindale (NW9), The Orchard (LU5), The Red Lion (UB1), Maxim Road, Dartford (DA1), Thornwood (CM16), Twyford Abbey (NW10), Victoria Quarter (Phase 1) (EN4), Victoria Quarter (Phase 2) (EN4), West Road (CM21), Wisley Airfield (GU23), Woodfield Site (CM6), Woodside Park (N12), Richard Avenue (CO7), Richmond Park (CT16), Sladbury Lane (CO15), Turpins Farm (CO14), Weeley Road (CO7), Whitfield 2 (CT16), Oak Hill Road (RM4), Victoria Road West (TN28), London Road, Woolmer Green (SG3), Otterpool Park (TN25), St Johns Road (CO16), Cookes Farm (CO16), Rouses Way (CO16), Thorpe Road (CO13), Wheat Quarter (AL7), Han Potts Farm (LU5), Cambridge Road, Sawbridgeworth (CM21), Woodside Road (WD25), Roundwood (SG1), Greenstead Road (CM5), Stanford Rivers Road (CM5), Gilston Area (CM20), Former Travis Perkins Site (LU1), 73 Bridge Road East (AL7), Brent Court (SG1), Little Chalfont Park (HP8), Chiswell Green Lane (AL2), Ashford Road, New Romney (TN28), Lyndhurst Farm (WD6), Elizabeth House (AL7), Marston Lakes (CT21), 17–51 London Road (TW18), Barnfield Avenue (LU2), Oakwood Park (CO16), Bidwell West (LU5), Bidwell West (BV 2) (LU5), Bishops Stortford (CM23), Block D Beaufort Park (NW9), Canalside Copper Athletics Track (GU21), Hertford Gas Works (SG13), Northaw Road East, Cuffley (EN6), Station Road, Felstead (CM6), Palm Hill (RG12), Land at Flint Road (SG6), Sacombe Road (SG14)

Thank you for your support at this important time.

Prohibited Uses

The use of a hosepipe, including using sprinklers, dripper hoses, automatic irrigation systems and similar devices, is prohibited for the following:

1. Watering a garden using a hosepipe
2. Cleaning a private motor-vehicle using a hosepipe
3. Watering plants on domestic or other non-commercial premises using a hosepipe
4. Cleaning a private leisure boat using a hosepipe
5. Filling or maintaining a domestic swimming or paddling pool
6. Drawing water, using a hosepipe, for domestic recreational use
7. Filling or maintaining a domestic pond using a hosepipe
8. Filling or maintaining an ornamental fountain
9. Cleaning walls, or windows, of domestic premises using a hosepipe
10. Cleaning paths or patios using a hosepipe
11. Cleaning other artificial outdoor surfaces using a hosepipe

Note: that customers can still undertake the above activities if they use mains water from a bucket or watering can; or use water that is not sourced from the mains such as grey water, rainwater from a water butt through a hosepipe, or private boreholes for example.

The following definitions apply:

- "Using a hosepipe" includes the drawing of water supplied by the company from a container through a hosepipe; and filling a container by means of a hosepipe with water supplied by the company;

- Garden" includes a park, gardens open to the public, a domestic garden, a lawn, a grass verge, an allotment used for non-commercial purposes and any other green space;

- "Hosepipe" includes anything designed, adapted or used to serve the same purpose as a hosepipe. The prohibitions apply whether or not any device is attached to the hosepipe, such as a sprinkler for example; and

- "Using a hosepipe for domestic recreational use" includes operating water slides and other recreational equipment.

These prohibited water uses are covered by the Water Industry Act 1991 section 76 as amended by the Flood and Water Management Act 2010. Further definitions may be found in Water Use (Temporary Bans) Order 2010, which is available at: http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2010/2231/contents/made

Statutory Exceptions

Customers who meet the requirements below can continue to use water without having to make representation to IWNL to receive permission. In using water, it is requested that customers use water wisely and adopt water efficient practices:

- Using a hosepipe for health or safety reasons, where this includes:
(a) removing or minimising any risk to human or animal health or safety; and
(b) preventing or controlling the spread of causative agents of disease;

Watering plants that are:
(1) grown or kept for sale or commercial use, or
(2) that are part of a National Plant Collection or temporary garden for flower display;

- Cleaning any area of a private leisure boat which, except for doors or windows, is enclosed by a roof and walls;

- Filling or maintaining a pool where necessary in the course of its construction;

- Filling or maintaining a pool that is designed, constructed or adapted for use in the course of a programme of medical treatment;

- Filling or maintaining a pool that is used for the purpose of decontaminating animals from infections or disease;

- Filling or maintaining a pool used in the course of a programme of veterinary treatment;

- Filling or maintaining a pool in which fish or other aquatic animals are being reared or kept in captivity;

- Filling or maintaining a domestic pond in which fish or other aquatic animals are being reared or kept in captivity; and

- Filling or maintaining an ornamental fountain which is in or near a fishpond and whose purpose is to supply sufficient oxygen to the water in the pond in order to keep the fish healthy.

N.B. Watering areas of grass, which are used for sport or recreation, is covered by a Statutory Exception for health & safety only in relation to the active playing area, not the entire ground.

Discretionary Universal Exceptions

Customers who meet the criteria below for a Discretionary Universal Exception can continue to use water without having to make representation to IWNL to receive permission to use water for the following restricted uses. It is requested that customers that meet the requirements for a Discretionary Universal Exception use water wisely and adopt water efficient practices.

The criteria for a Discretionary Universal Exception include:

- Watering a garden attached to a domestic dwelling, or watering plants on domestic premises using a hosepipe by people with severe mobility problems who hold a current Blue Badge as issued by their local authority;

- Use of an approved drip or trickle irrigation watering system, fitted with a pressure reducing valve and a timer, that are not handheld, that place water drip by drip directly onto the soil surface or beneath the soil surface, without any surface run off or dispersion of water through the air using a jet or mist; and

- Commercial customers that use hosepipes in the course of their day-to-day business operation for example hand car washing, window cleaning, graffiti removal, excluding the watering of domestic gardens.

Discretionary Concessional Exceptions

Customers can make representation to IWNL to receive a Discretionary Concessional Exception to use water for the following restricted uses. If permission for a Discretionary Concessional Exception is given, it is requested that customers use water wisely and adopt water efficient practices.

The water uses for which a Discretionary Concessional Exception can be applied for by writing to IWNL include:

- Watering a garden attached to a domestic dwelling, or watering plants on domestic premises using a hosepipe by people registered on IWNL's Vulnerable Customer List who have mobility issues, but who are not in possession of a Blue Badge.

Representations

Representations concerning any of these prohibitions may be made in writing by 16 July 2026 to: Water Resources Team, IWNL Drought Representations Team, Driscoll 2, Ellen Street, Cardiff, CF10 4BP.

If, as a result of any representation, IWNL decides to vary any terms of the prohibition, a further notice will be published.

Subject to this, the prohibitions will have effect from the stated date and will remain in force until further notice.

Any person who contravenes any of these prohibitions may be guilty of an offence and liable, on summary conviction, to a fine not exceeding £1,000.