Legal notice

Thames Water Utilities Limited

Removal of temporary ban on water use

Sections 76 and 76B of the Water Industry Act 1991

A temporary use ban (also known as a hosepipe ban) imposing a number of prohibitions on the use of water (which were subject to various exemptions) has been in force in part of the Thames Water supply area since 22 July 2025. The prohibition applied to the following postcode areas in so far as they fell within the Thames Water supply area: OX, GL, SN, RG4, RG8 and RG9.

We are pleased to announce that the temporary use ban has been lifted with immediate effect.

Following the above average rainfall we’ve seen since October our storage position has recovered well, with Farmoor reservoir now nearly full and the aquifers in the Cotswold region are also at normal levels for the time of year. This means the risk of drought has now greatly reduced, although we will be monitoring the situation throughout the winter and into next spring as we still need significant rainfall over that period.

We would like to thank all our customers for your support since the temporary use ban came into effect. Your continued careful use of water has helped make a real difference over the past four months.

27 November 2025