South East Water's Temporary Use Ban for Kent came into force at 00:01 on Friday 3 July 2026, the first hosepipe ban of summer 2026. It covers about 850,000 customers.
The company gives the cause as near-record demand on the Kent distribution network during the June heatwave. Kent and Sussex have now had restrictions in three of the last five years.
The ban was later extended to the rest of South East Water's supply area from 25 July under a second legal notice.