Thames Water has become the latest supplier to announce a hosepipe ban, impacting more than 10 million of its customers. The ban, from this Thursday, prevents domestic and business customers from using a hosepipe for watering gardens, washing cars, and other activities. Five other suppliers have also imposed bans in some or all of their areas. Breaching the ban risks customers being fined up to £1,000.
However, there are a number of exemptions to the ban. These include Thames Water customers who pay for its wastewater services but get water from other suppliers because of where they live.
Thames Water Exemptions
The UK’s biggest water supplier hasn’t published its full breakdown of exemptions until a legal notice is issued on Wednesday. However, it has said its ban only applies to those who get both water and wastewater services from the company. It doesn't apply to those who pay for its wastewater services but get water from other suppliers. Thames says other exemptions are for “health and safety needs”, animal welfare, including pets, livestock, and fish, some business services and activities, and watering food crops and certain newly planted trees. It also has a category for its Priority Services customers who cannot reasonably adjust their water use because of a disability or medical condition.
Anglian Water Exemptions
Like Thames, Anglian says those on its Priority Services Register who are unable to make reasonable adjustments because of a health condition or disability are exempt from its ban. Others excluded include if a hosepipe is needed “to protect human health and safety” or for animal welfare. A hosepipe can also be used if connected to a water butt or other recycled water storage system. It can still be used for watering newly planted trees, hedges, and saplings “where a watering can isn’t a practical option”, and for newly laid turf for the first 28 days after it has been laid, as well as newly sown grass seed for the first 28 days. A hosepipe can be used for food crops grown at home or on private allotments where a watering can isn’t practical. Sports pitches and recreational playing surfaces where watering is necessary and takes place outside peak hours (8am–10am and 5pm–9pm) are still allowed. Others include business car washes, commercially grown crops, or water features where they are needed to keep fish healthy.
Affinity Water Exemptions
In areas affected by a hosepipe ban, the company says customers on the Priority Services Register, on the WaterSure tariff, and Blue Badge holders can continue to use a hosepipe if they are unable to make adjustments, such as using a watering can, due to medical reasons. Like Anglian, an exemption applies to newly laid turf with a hosepipe for up to 28 days after it’s been laid. “Please note that this only applies to turf that was laid before the hosepipe ban was introduced”, the firm said.
South East Water Exemptions
Again, exemptions for customers registered with the South East Water’s Priority Service Register will be granted an automatic exemption to any of the restrictions. It also doesn’t apply where using a ban would cause a “risk to human or animal health or safety”. Like others, a hosepipe can still be used when it’s connected to a water butt. Watering of new lawns at home is allowed for a period of four weeks after being laid and when undertaken outside of daily peak hours that occur 8am to 10am and 5pm to 9pm. Watering trees, saplings and hedging planted before the ban is allowed, where it can’t reasonably be done with a watering can. The same goes for watering food crops in gardens or private allotments. Swimming pools and paddling pools can’t be filled but those within places of worship or community pools and when they are used as part of a religious ceremony can still be filled with a hosepipe.
