We are implementing a temporary hosepipe ban

We really need your help. Please only use water for essential purposes at this time.

For the first time in more than thirty years, we have taken the difficult decision to introduce a temporary hosepipe ban across our Cambridge region.

Following one of the driest springs in recent years and exceptionally warm weather throughout the summer so far, demand for water across the region has risen to record levels.

To everyone who has already taken steps to reduce their water use – your support really does make a difference – thank you.

Our teams are working around the clock to maintain supplies, but local water resources are now under significant pressure. We know customers expect us to do everything we can before asking them to do more. That’s why we have increased our capability to find and fix leaks as quickly as possible. But every litre you can help us save will be huge help.

Why is a hosepipe ban now needed?

We typically supply around 86 million litres of water a day to the Cambridge region – enough to fill more than one million baths. Water use is now exceeding 112 million litres a day, a 30% increase and the equivalent of an extra 300,000 baths every day. During these periods of high demand, water is being used faster than we can treat and distribute it.

At the same time, low levels of rainfall have reduced the amount of water available to replenish local rivers and streams. We take our commitment to protecting the environment seriously, so reducing the water we need to take from it is crucial to help protect our rare local chalk streams and rivers. That’s why reducing non-essential water use now can make a real difference.

By working together now, we can help ensure resilient water supplies for our communities both this summer and into the future.

What does this mean for you?

You will need to stop using your hosepipes for the following non-essential activities:

• watering gardens
• filling ponds, fountains, paddling pools, swimming pools, hot tubs or cold-water plunge pools
• washing cars, patios or windows

You can still carry on with these activities if you’re using water from a bucket or a watering can.

You can also use water that is not sourced from mains water, such as grey water or rainwater from a water butt.

Are there any exemptions?  

Whilst the hosepipe ban will apply to most customers, there are some exemptions that recognise some people rely on hosepipe use for health, safety or operational needs. Exemptions include customers with serious medical conditions or disabilities on our Priority Services Register, and businesses where hosepipe use is essential for operations.

We understand that you may have more questions. You can access all the information you need on our website.

Thank you for your understanding and support, by working together our actions will make a huge difference.

Elena Karpathakis

Managing Director, Cambridge Water

We’re also taking action to protect the environment and our water supplies

As our the region continues to grow and face increasing challenges from climate change, we are investing in long-term solutions to secure future water supplies.

This includes spending £224m over the next five years to protect water supplies, including:

Developing new sources of water, including a transfer of water from Anglian Water’s Grafham Reservoir and the proposed Fens Reservoir. These will increase the water supply available and increase resilience to drought.

Reducing leakage by a further 20% in its Cambridge region through finding and fixing more leaks, replacing over 50km of ageing pipeline at risk from leakage.

Giving customers more power over their water bills and usage by rolling out more meters across its region over the next five years.