No hosepipe ban fines have been issued in the past five years, water firms admit

Major water companies in England have not issued a single fine to residents for breaking hosepipe bans over the past five years, The Independent can reveal.

- JABED AHMED

Southern Water, Yorkshire Water, Thames Water and South West Water have confirmed they did not issue any fines, which can be as high as £1,000, despite having the legal power to do so for more than a decade.

All four companies have introduced hosepipe bans at different times since 2020, including the heatwaves of 2022 and 2023, which left millions under restrictions. This year, Yorkshire Water, South East Water and Southern Water have all imposed bans to curb nonessential use as England battles exceptionally dry weather.

Under current rules, householders who breach a ban can be fined up to £1,000 if prosecuted, and companies also have powers to issue £100 fixed penalty notices. Despite high-profile campaigns urging households to save water, enforcement has relied entirely on public goodwill rather than financial penalties.

Campaigners have told The Independent that leaking pipes, poor planning and inaction by water companies pose a far greater threat to supplies than people watering their gardens.

James Wallace, CEO of campaign group River Action, said it was wrong to focus on “threatening customers with £1,000 fines for watering their gardens” when water companies themselves spill billions of litres every day and face few consequences.