Berkshire is served by 3 different water companies, and a ban is set per company, not per county. The county is genuinely the wrong unit of answer: your postcode decides.
South East Water has a ban in force. Thames Water has a ban in force. Affinity Water has a ban in force. Which of these applies at your address depends on which one bills you.
You cannot use a hosepipe or sprinkler at home. A watering can or bucket is still fine, and the maximum fine is £1,000.
Kent
from 3 July 2026
Sussex, Surrey, Hampshire and Berkshire
from 25 July 2026
Areas covered: The entire South East Water supply area, under two separate legal notices. Kent has been in force since 00:01 on Friday 3 July 2026. Sussex, Surrey, Hampshire and Berkshire come into force at 00:01 on Saturday 25 July 2026.
You cannot use a hosepipe or sprinkler at home. A watering can or bucket is still fine, and the maximum fine is £1,000.
Started
23 July 2026
Ends
Until further notice
Areas covered: The whole Thames Water drinking-water supply area, covering London, the Thames Valley and the home counties. Customers Thames Water serves for wastewater only, and customers supplied with drinking water by another company, are not affected.
TWThames Water·Status checked just now·page dated 24 July 2026
You cannot use a hosepipe or sprinkler at home. A watering can or bucket is still fine, and the maximum fine is £1,000.
Central region
from 11 July 2026
East region
date not published
Areas covered: Affinity Water's Central region (Bedfordshire, Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Hertfordshire, Surrey, parts of London and Essex) and its East region (the Tendring peninsula of north-east Essex).