Brits face hosepipe bans in 2025 drought, meanwhile water utilities leak billions of litres of fresh drinkable water from pipes daily

This summer, millions across the UK have been told to stop watering their gardens, filling paddling pools, or washing their cars. Yorkshire Water kicked off the bans on July 11th, Thames Water followed on July 22nd, and restrictions are stacking up from Kent to the Isle of Wight.

The message? “We’re running out of water.”

But here’s the part you’re not hearing: every single day, UK water companies lose nearly 3 billion litres through leaks in their own infrastructure. That’s more than enough to cover daily household demand in the very regions now facing bans.

We don’t have a hosepipe problem. We have a leakage problem. And it’s time the industry owned up to it.

Drought is real. So is mismanagement.

Yes, reservoir levels are low. Yes, this was the driest spring on record. But while the public is being asked to make sacrifices, utilities are still bleeding water underground—and too often, operating in slow motion when it comes to fixing it.

The result? A credibility crisis. Customers are fed up. And Ofwat - now with much reduced relevance - knows it: fewer than 1 in 4 people trust their water provider to act in the environment’s best interest.

Public trust isn’t going to be restored with more restrictions. It’s going to take accountability. And action.

The fix starts on the frontline

Most water companies still rely on outdated, reactive processes to detect and manage leaks. By the time a leak is found, days may have passed—and millions of litres are already lost.

That’s why more utilities are turning to FYLD.

Our AI-driven fieldwork intelligence platform gives water providers real-time visibility into what’s happening underground—before the damage spirals. Using smart notifications, video risk assessments, and live workflows, FYLD helps crews move from “we’ll get to it” to “already handled.”

Water utilities using FYLD have seen:

• 1.4 day reduction in average leak runtime - that's a 35% reduction on time between leak detection and leak cessation!

• 2 Million Litres of water saved per day!

• 34% fewer pollution incidents

All while improving operational efficiency and safety for crews in the field.

Ban the excuses—not the hosepipes

The current restrictions might be temporary, but the public memory won’t be. People are paying attention. They’re angry. And they’re asking why they should do their part when their water provider won’t do theirs. Why in the face of mounting bills - we’ve all just been slugged with an average 26% rate increase - are these issues not being fixed?

Here’s the truth: hosepipe bans make headlines. But if utilities want to lead through drought—not just survive it—they need to show progress where it matters most.

Fix the leaks. Fast-track the tech. Prove that saving water isn’t just the public’s problem to solve.

Want to save millions of litres before the next ban hits?

FYLD helps utilities act faster, work smarter, and eliminate the excuses. Book a demo to see how.