More controls possible as reservoir level drops
BBCAdditional water usage restrictions could be introduced after South West Water said a reservoir had dropped to just 18% full.
After introducing a hosepipe ban in August, the company is now applying to the government to potentially bring in a Non-Essential Use Ban (NEUB), which would restrict water usage by certain businesses.
"We don't want to impact businesses but this is a last resort," said Sam Bottomley, director of water services at the firm, adding "reservoirs just haven't recovered" after the hottest summer on record.
He said Wimbleball reservoir, in Somerset, was under 20% full. Devon, Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly were among areas of England to be declared in drought in July.
Which businesses could be affected?
"We're looking at businesses non-essential use of water," Bottomley said.
"Window cleaning on an office block, cleaning of fleet vehicles, those sorts of things.
"If water is essential for the business, for a domestic window cleaner for example, then you wouldn't be affected by this ban."
According to the water regulator Ofwat, the introduction of a non-essential use ban would mean businesses must stop using water for the following activities:
- Watering outdoor plants on commercial premises
- Filling or maintaining a non-domestic swimming pool or paddling pool
- Filling or maintaining a pond
- Operating a mechanical vehicle washer
- Cleaning any vehicle, boat, aircraft or railway rolling stock
- Cleaning non-domestic premises
- Cleaning industrial plant
- Suppressing dust
- Operating cisterns on unoccupied buildings
Which areas would the ban cover?
The area served by Wimbleball reservoir, on Exmoor, would be impacted by the proposed NEUB, if it was introduced.
That includes parts of Mid Devon, all of East Devon and extends into part of Dorset and Exmouth, Crediton, Honiton and Lyme Regis.
South West Water has applied to the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs and the final decision sits with the government.
The application follows similar applications earlier this year by both Southern Water and South East Water.
The last time SWW introduced a NEUB was in west Cornwall in 1995.
South West WaterThe government previously said most of England's reservoirs were now classed as "notably or exceptionally low".
At just 18% full, Wimbleball reservoir is lower than 29.8% at this time last year and at 22.4% during the last drought in 2022.
It can hold more than 21 billion litres of water and serves about 360,000 people.
The company has faced criticism over leakage rates, with some customers contacting the BBC highlighting the length of time it took South West Water to deal with some cases.
Bottomley said the firm was "finding and fixing leaks faster than ever before" and investing to projects to boost water resources across the region.
The South West saw less than average rainfall during September, at just 69%.
Earlier this month the government said the El Niño weather phenomenon was set to put the UK at a slightly greater risk of a wet, stormy autumn but that drought pressures could persist in some areas.
It said climate change meant the area could see both flooding and drought simultaneously.
Correction 6 October 2026: An earlier version of this story said the South West received 57% of its average September rainfall in 2026. However, this figure has since been updated to 69%.
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