No households fined for breaking hosepipe bans during recent droughts, water firms admit
Water companies reveal why they haven’t issued a single hosepipe ban fine
- Major water companies in England, including Southern Water and Thames Water, have not issued any fines for breaches of hosepipe bans over the last five years.
- Despite having the legal power to fine up to £1,000, companies say they have relied on public goodwill for compliance during multiple bans imposed since 2020.
- Campaigners argue that water companies' own failings, such as leaking pipes and underinvestment, pose a greater threat to supplies than household water use.
- The water sector faces scrutiny over a 60 per cent rise in serious pollution incidents in 2024, prompting government plans to overhaul regulation and scrap Ofwat.
- Experts warn that the UK is running out of water, stressing the need for broader solutions beyond hosepipe bans, including everyone reducing water waste.