Businesses Could Be Barred from Non-Essential Water Use Amid Supply Threat
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Wimbleball reservoir in Exmoor, Somerset, is currently at less than a quarter of its capacity after the dry spring and summer heatwaves.
Photograph: Paul Silvers/BNPS
Water
Businesses could be barred from non-essential water use amid supply threat
Golf clubs, private schools and car washes may face tighter rules from water companies as England’s drought continues
Sandra Laville
Wed 14 Oct 2026 08:00 CEST
Last modified on Wed 14 Oct 2026 12:28 CEST
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Three water companies are seeking to impose severe restrictions on businesses as the drought continues across most of
England , putting rivers and wildlife under huge pressure. Golf clubs and private schools could be barred from using mains water to irrigate playing fields and courses, and commercial car washes stopped from operating, under “non-essential use bans” being sought by the companies.
Eleven areas of England are still in drought, rivers are suffering from low flows, groundwater levels are declining and reservoir levels are at 54% – 21% below what is expected in the autumn. Yorkshire was the latest area to move into drought status on 9 October. Parts of Wales are experiencing the first signs of drought recovery after the whole country was declared in drought in July.
An illustration showing areas of England in drought
Nineteen reservoirs or reservoir groups in England and Wales are less than 50% full, and eight are exceptionally low, up from
five in August .
The Met Office says above-average rainfall
is needed over a sustained seven-month period to bring all areas out of drought. But last month England received about 65% of its typical September rainfall, with eastern and southern areas experiencing the greatest deficit.
View image in fullscreen
Depleted water levels at Ardingly reservoir in West Sussex.
Photograph: Toby Melville/Reuters
Businesses in drought-hit areas have been excluded from the hosepipe restrictions imposed on the public for the past three months. But South East, Southern and South West Water have applied to extend restrictions on water use to businesses via non-essential use bans in parts of their regions. If granted, water restrictions can be placed on golf clubs, private schools and commercial car washes to cut water use. Power hoses in car washes can use up to 25 litres of water per minute.
Permission from the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) is required for the new restrictions.