Commercial car washes, golf courses and private school playing fields in parts of England could face bans on non-essential water use. According to The Guardian, South East Water, Southern Water and South West Water have applied for permission to introduce the restrictions. These are applications, not bans already in force: the newspaper reported that the government had not yet responded when its article was published on 14 October.
The decision rests with the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra). The proposed restrictions would affect parts of the areas served by the three water companies, rather than all businesses in England. They could cover watering golf courses and school playing fields with mains water, as well as commercial car wash operations. The Guardian does not give a date for any bans to take effect.
Rain has not been enough to end the drought
The applications come amid a persistent shortage of water. The Guardian reports that 11 areas of England remain in drought, with reservoirs at 54% capacity. England received around 65% of its typical September rainfall in September 2026 — too little to replenish supplies quickly.
The newspaper cites an assessment by the Met Office, the UK’s national weather service, that bringing all areas out of drought would require seven months of above-average rainfall. That is an assessment of the rainfall needed, however, not a guaranteed timetable for the drought to end.
The Guardian highlights particularly low water levels at two reservoirs in south-west England: Wimbleball in Somerset is at 18% capacity and Colliford in Cornwall at 37%. A South West Water representative told the newspaper that the arrival of rain does not mean an immediate end to drought. Reducing demand and preserving water supplies remain the company’s priorities.
Southern Water also seeks to take more water from the River Test
Southern Water is also applying for a drought order, a special authorisation for measures to address drought which, in this case, would allow additional water to be taken from the River Test. According to The Guardian, the company says there is a clear threat to supplies in Hampshire and on the Isle of Wight.
For businesses, the key questions are whether Defra approves the restrictions and how widely they would apply. The water companies’ applications do not themselves amount to a ban on water use: the measures described remain subject to government approval.
