A temporary hosepipe ban has been announced by both Affinity Water and Thames Water, covering all of the Epping Forest district.

Water companies are urging customers to conserve water wherever possible during the ongoing dry conditions.

Please check who you pay your water bills to, to see what restrictions are in place. If you are unsure who your water provider is please go to the Water UK website and enter your postcode to find out.

Affinity Water

Affinity Water has introduced a hosepipe ban covering Bedfordshire, Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Hertfordshire, Surrey, and parts of London and Essex.

This means you won’t be able to use a hosepipe for:

• Watering gardens
• Washing cars
• Cleaning windows and patios
• Filling swimming and paddling pools
• Using jet washers

Find out more on the Affinity Water website:

• Affinity Water introduces a hosepipe ban in their Central region

Thames Water

Under the Temporary Use Ban, customers in the affected area must not use hosepipes. It includes not using them for:

• Watering gardens, lawns or allotments
• Cleaning private cars, patios, paths, driveways or windows
• Filling or topping up paddling pools, swimming pools or hot tubs
• Using sprinklers or similar equipment connected to the mains water supply

Find out more on the Thames Water website:

• Thames Water announces Temporary Use Ban following record hot weather and exceptionally high demand

A few simple changes can make a big difference

Did you know a sprinkler or hose can use up to 1,000 litres of water per hour! Which is the equivalent of 25 people taking a 4 minute shower.

• Avoid using hoses and sprinklers where possible
• Delay washing vehicles until demand has reduced
• Avoid filling or topping up paddling pools unless necessary
• If needing to water plants, use a watering can instead of a hose
• Turn off taps when they’re not in use