Hosepipe Bans / Temporary Use Bans
Guidance for watering newly laid turf in 2026
Last updated: 27 July 2026
Many water companies are introducing Temporary Use Bans (TUBs), commonly known as hosepipe bans, to help protect water supplies.
Most of the companies applying restrictions have included a specific exemption or concession allowing newly laid turf to be watered during its initial establishment period.
However, the rules and conditions vary between companies. This page brings together the current position published by each water company to help turf suppliers, landscapers and customers check what applies in their area.
Current water-company guidance
The following summary covers water companies that had announced or introduced Temporary Use Bans across all or part of their supply areas at the time this page was updated.
| Water company | Temporary Use Ban commencement date | Position on watering newly laid turf | Key conditions |
|---|---|---|---|
| Affinity Water | 17.07.2026 | Newly laid turf may be watered using a hosepipe for up to 28 days after it has been laid. |
Applies across Affinity Water’s Central region, covering
Bedfordshire, Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Hertfordshire, Surrey,
and parts of London and Essex. Use only as much water as the turf
genuinely needs.
View official guidance |
| Anglian Water | 11.07.2026 | Newly laid turf may be watered using a hosepipe for the first 28 days after it has been laid. |
Applies across the Anglian Water region. The exemption applies
where watering cannot reasonably be done using a watering can.
Use only as much water as the turf genuinely needs.
View official guidance |
| Cambridge Water | 17.07.2026 | Newly laid turf may be watered using a hosepipe for the first 28 days. |
Applies across the Cambridge Water supply region.
Use the hosepipe sparingly and respect the purpose
of the restrictions.
View official guidance |
| South East Water |
03.07.2026 – Kent 25.07.2026 – Sussex, Surrey, Hampshire and Berkshire |
Turf laid before the start of the ban may be watered for up to 28 days after laying. |
Restrictions apply across all South East Water drinking-water
supply areas. Water outside the peak periods of 8am–10am and
5pm–9pm. Evidence of the installation date may be required.
View official guidance |
| Southern Water | 10.07.2026 | Newly laid turf may be watered using a hosepipe for the first 28 days after laying. |
The restrictions apply to Southern Water customers in Hampshire
and on the Isle of Wight. Southern Water asks customers using
this exemption to use water wisely.
View official guidance |
| South West Water | 14.07.2026 | Newly laid turf may be watered using a hosepipe during the first 28 days after laying. |
Applies only within the areas covered by the restrictions in
Mid Devon and parts of East Devon and Dorset. Customers should
use South West Water’s postcode checker to confirm whether they
are affected.
View official guidance |
| Dŵr Cymru Welsh Water | 19.07.2026 | Watering newly laid turf for the first 28 days from when the turf was laid, and only where the turf was laid before the onset of the TUB. |
Where this cannot reasonably be done using a watering can.
View official guidance |
| Thames Water | 23.07.2026 | Newly laid turf may be watered using a hosepipe or sprinkler for the first 28 days from the day the turf was laid. |
The turf must have been laid by a business as a service to the
customer. The hosepipe or sprinkler must be used only on the
newly laid area. The ban applies across the whole Thames Water
supply area from 00:01 on 23 July 2026.
View official guidance |
Information correct as at 27 July 2026. Restrictions, exemptions and the areas covered may change at short notice. Always check the complete and most recent guidance published by your water company before using a hosepipe.
Before you order or lay turf
A little planning will help ensure newly laid turf establishes successfully and that all current water-company conditions are followed.
Check your water company
Confirm which water company supplies the property and check whether a Temporary Use Ban applies in that area.
Plan your watering
Water only as much as the newly laid turf genuinely needs and avoid runoff onto paths, roads or surrounding areas.
Confirm the conditions
Check how long the turf may be watered, whether it must have been laid before the ban started, and whether watering times or methods are restricted.
Keep a record
Retain evidence of the date the turf was laid in case the water company asks for confirmation.
Follow all requirements
Make sure you understand and can comply with all conditions before ordering or laying turf.
Stop when the period ends
Stop using a hosepipe once the permitted establishment period has ended.
Use water responsibly. These provisions allow limited watering of newly laid turf during its establishment period only. They do not permit the continued watering of an established lawn.
Why newly laid turf needs water
Freshly laid turf must be kept adequately watered while it establishes roots into the soil beneath it.
Without sufficient water during this critical period, the turf may fail. This wastes the turf itself, the resources used to grow, harvest and transport it, any water already applied and the customer’s investment.
What about established lawns?
Established lawns are naturally resilient and will usually recover when cooler and wetter conditions return.
A lawn may become brown and dormant during prolonged hot or dry weather. This does not necessarily mean the grass has died, and established lawns generally do not require regular watering during a Temporary Use Ban.
Important information
Temporary Use Bans, the areas they cover and the exemptions or concessions provided can change at short notice. This page is intended as a general summary and should not be treated as a substitute for the official rules published by your water company. Always check directly with your supplier before using a hosepipe.
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