In a press release yesterday South West Water announced that:
It will be introducing temporary restrictions on hosepipe use for customers in Mid Devon and parts of East Devon including Tiverton, Cullompton, Bampton, Honiton, South Molton, Dunkeswell, Axminster and Lyme Regis, due to current exceptionally high levels of demand in the area.
The temporary restrictions will come into effect from 12pm (noon) on Tuesday 14 July, however, South West Water is asking customers to follow the restrictions immediately to help protect water supplies during this current period of very hot and dry weather.
This means that customers are asked not to use hosepipes for watering their gardens, washing cars, patios and boats, or filling swimming and paddling pools.
The decision follows two extreme heatwaves in the last three weeks which continues to drive exceptionally high demand across the region, but particularly in this area…
For more information about how the restrictions will affect them, customers can visit www.southwestwater.co.uk/hosepipe-ban
South West Water’s hosepipe ban page includes a map of the affected area:
plus this additional information:
If you would like further insight into the implications of the above information, please do not hesitate to get in touch.
To ensure that we can continue to supply water for essential use, we have introduced a hosepipe ban in Mid Devon and parts of East Devon. The ban came into effect at 12:00 (noon) on Tuesday 14th July. Please help safeguard water for essential use by following these restrictions immediately. Customers in the affected areas (see postcode tracker below) must not use hosepipes for non-essential purposes while the ban is in place. This includes using a hosepipe to:
● Water your garden
● Wash your car
● Fill a paddling pool, swimming pool or hot tub
● Clean your patio or driveway
● Clean walls and windowsYou can still carry out many of your usual activities without a hosepipe, for example by using a watering can to water plants or using a bucket and sponge to wash your car.
There are some exceptions to the ban, which are set out by law. Please see a full list of exceptions here.
You may also be exempt if you have a health condition, disability or extra support need.
Whilst the water levels in the other major reservoirs in Devon show no obvious cause for concern, the level in Wimbleball Lake on Exmoor is tracking just above the “drought year” of 2022:
South West Water’s “Reservoir Levels” web page currently also includes some extra information:
According to Met Office rainfall data, spring 2026 was drier than average across much of the South West. This dry start has meant that reservoir levels are lower than normal in some areas, and river flows have also reduced.
We are continuing to monitor our water resources closely and we thank all our customers who have taken simple steps to reduce their water use over the warm and dry summer.
Our teams are working hard to deliver major leakage reductions which is already having an impact, and we’re continuing to support customers with free water-saving devices and proactive water saving advice.
By everyone joining us in using water wisely, we can continue to enjoy everything our beautiful region has to offer without putting unnecessary strain on supplies.
Why are Wimbleball’s levels lower than Colliford and Roadford?
Wimbleball is used to support flow in the River Exe, which then allow us to abstract from our Pynes and Allers water treatment works. The dry weather has meant that the River Exe has dropped below the threshold where we have to release water from Wimbleball. Colliford and Roadford also support abstraction from the rivers Fowey and Tamar respectively, however, they have not dropped below the threshold as quickly as the Exe…
The current heatwave across South West England is forecast to continue for a few more days. With the school holidays almost upon us, will South West Water’s temporary use ban be extended to other areas of Devon in the not too distant future?
