Stevenage households face limits on hosepipe use

beehiveweb.co.uk editorial team 2026-07-21 10:55 Updated: 11:30 2 min read

Green garden hose neatly coiled on a wall mount during a sunny day.

Stevenage residents supplied by Affinity Water face restrictions on common household uses of hosepipes following weeks of hot, dry weather and record water demand.

Stevenage Borough Council published its notice on 10 July 2026, explaining that the Temporary Use Ban is intended to preserve supplies for homes, businesses and essential services while protecting local rivers and the wider environment.

At a glance

The restrictions concern Stevenage households supplied by Affinity Water within the company’s Temporary Use Ban area.
Hosepipes, sprinklers and mains-connected pressure washers are covered.
Residents must check Affinity Water’s current information for the precise start time, address coverage and full list of exceptions.
The council notice does not specify penalties or enforcement arrangements.

Check whether your Stevenage home is affected

The council’s notice directs residents to Affinity Water for the full coverage area and detailed rules. It does not state the ban’s precise start time or identify every affected postcode, so households should confirm that their address is within the Temporary Use Ban area before relying on the council notice alone.

The restrictions also apply to sprinklers and pressure washers when they are connected to the mains water supply. Residents should not assume that changing the attachment on a mains-fed hose removes the restriction.

Hosepipe activities covered by the ban

During the Temporary Use Ban, affected residents must not use a hosepipe for activities including:

Watering a garden
Washing a car
Cleaning patios or driveways
Cleaning walls or windows
Filling paddling pools, swimming pools or hot tubs
Filling ponds
Filling or operating ornamental fountains
Using jet washers

These limits affect several routine summer activities, particularly during prolonged hot weather. Their stated purpose is to reduce avoidable demand while water use is at record levels and help maintain supplies for homes, businesses and essential services.

Stevenage households face limits on hosepipe use

Exceptions must be confirmed before using a hose

Stevenage Borough Council confirms that exceptions are available but does not reproduce them in its announcement. The complete exemption list is held by Affinity Water.

Residents who believe they have a qualifying need should check the water company’s official rules before using a hosepipe. An activity listed as restricted should not be treated as exempt unless the relevant Affinity Water exception applies, including any conditions attached to it.

Steps residents should take now

Households confirmed as being within the ban area should stop the listed hosepipe, sprinkler and mains-connected pressure-washer activities for the duration of the restrictions. Anyone uncertain about their property should use Affinity Water’s published coverage information to check the address before using this equipment.

Source: Stevenage Borough Council News

Context & actions About this article

Source check Source trail

The restrictions and prohibited activities were checked against the notice published by Stevenage Borough Council on 10 July 2026.

Checks

Checked the council notice’s publication date.
Matched each listed prohibited use to the supplied source.
Preserved the distinction between hosepipes and mains-connected sprinklers or pressure was...
Flagged that coverage, exceptions and full conditions must be confirmed with Affinity Wate...

Stevenage Borough Council News Check current coverage and rules