Renowned gardener Alan Titchmarsh has advised that every home should have a water butt to maintain gardens during a hosepipe ban, as Anglian Water introduced restrictions in eastern England over the weekend due to the third heatwave of the year.
A hosepipe ban prohibits the use of hosepipes for watering, but Titchmarsh explained that rainwater collected in water butts can be used freely. In a video on his YouTube channel, he said: “If you have been hit with a hosepipe ban there are ways you can still get water to your plants. One thing this garden does have plenty of is water butts. Every home should have water butts. What’s in here is free.” He noted that plants often grow better with rainwater.
How to Maximise Rainwater Collection
Titchmarsh recommended installing water butts on every downpipe of a house, using diverters to ensure overflow goes down the drain once the butt is full. He added that a portable electric water pump can be used to irrigate plants from the butt. “So if you can store every drop of water possible in your garden, you’ll be far less irritated when there’s a hosepipe ban,” he said.
The advice comes as the UK faces extreme heat. Dr Mark McCarthy, Manager of Climate Attribution at the Met Office, stated: “2026 has been exceptional for the two early season heatwaves in May and June. These have smashed records that had stood from May 1944 and June 1976 respectively. ... It is clear that human-caused climate change is leading to more frequent and more intense summer heatwaves.”
Climate Experts Warn of Dangerous Summers
Dr Clair Barnes, Research Associate in Extreme Weather and Climate Change at Imperial College London, added: “It’s time we woke up to the fact that we now live in a country with dangerously hot summers. To protect people during future extremes, we must urgently adapt to the reality of the climate we now have, and double down on global efforts to reach net zero emissions to stop this from getting worse.”
Installing a water butt before a heatwave can mitigate the impact of a hosepipe ban, as rainwater is free and not subject to restrictions.
