Yorkshire hosepipe ban 'not expected this summer'

A hosepipe ban is not expected to be put in place in Yorkshire this summer, the region's water company has said.

The county is in a "much better position" this year with reservoir capacity currently at 75%, compared to the 53.8% in July 2025, Yorkshire Water said.

The news comes as the UK experiences another heatwave, with amber heat health alerts issued for Yorkshire and north-west England, with more in place across the Midlands, eastern and southern England.

Yorkshire Water said people should monitor their own water intake - particularly in Doncaster, which has seen the largest increase in water use compared with other areas of the region.

Demand for water in the Doncaster supply area hit 102m litres per day during the June heatwave, a 24% increase compared to average April consumption.

This was double the increase across the region as a whole, Yorkshire Water said.

Water usage in the South Yorkshire city had already reached 105m litres on 8 July.

Andy Shaw, director of control, production and process at Yorkshire Water, said: "We're urging customers to think carefully about their water use."

Temperatures are not forecast to be record-breaking like those in May and June, but this heatwave could be one of the longest since 1976.

In that year, England saw multiple locations record 13 to 16 consecutive days above 30°C and it still holds the record for the longest-lasting heatwave in the UK.

Yorkshire Water said despite this, it did not anticipate needing to impose a hosepipe ban.

The company said this was due to the extremely wet start to the year combined with its investment in new water supplies, repairs to reduce leaks and the installation of smart meters which help detect them.

"All of this means our network is more resilient than ever, and we have no expectations of hosepipe restrictions this summer," a spokesperson said.

It is urging customers to use water wisely, however, as temperatures across the region soar.

It said new research indicated just 15% of adults in Yorkshire and the Humber understand how much water they use - with many estimating they use about 30 litres a day, when the average is more like 126 litres.

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