Millions of people across England and Wales are facing water restrictions after a prolonged period of extreme heat. The Met Office has confirmed that some parts of England are seeing the longest unbroken spell of no recorded rainfall.
Thames Water explained: "We’ve had a very dry spring and record-breaking hot weather in May, June and July. This has meant people have been using more water than normal. We need to protect our supplies now, so we can keep taps flowing as we move through the summer and beyond."
What does the hosepipe ban cover?
Watering gardens or filling up paddling pools using a hosepipe is temporarily banned in some parts of England and Wales. According to Southwest Water, a hosepipe ban covers "anything that connects to the mains supply, it applies to sprinklers, irrigation systems and pressure washers as well as to hosepipes". However, there are some exceptions.
General exceptions to the hosepipe ban
- You are on our Priority Services Register and unable to make reasonable adjustments due to a health condition or disability
- You are a Blue Badge holder
- You need to protect human health and safety
- You need the water for animal welfare, including pets, livestock and fish
Garden exceptions
- Trees, hedges and saplings planted within the last planting season, where watering with a watering can is not feasible
- Turf that has been laid within the last 28 days
- Newly-bought plants for the first 14 days after purchase
- Food crops grown at home or at a private allotment, where using a watering can is not feasible
- Sports pitches and surfaces where watering is necessary, so long as watering takes place outside of the peak hours of 8-10am and 5-9pm
- Using an irrigation system that drips or trickles, with a time and pressure-reducing valve and that deliver water directly to soil
- There is no restriction on using a watering can in your garden. Watering is most efficient if done at a cooler time of day – early morning or late evening.
- You need to fill a pond to keep fish or other aquatic animals healthy
- Where a pond or pool is used as part of a recognised religious practice
Pool exceptions
- The pool is designed for medical or therapeutic use
- A pool is under construction and needs to be filled as part of its construction
- A pool is used as part of a religious ceremony in a place of worship or community setting
Car exceptions
- Cleaning a vehicle as part of a private business, for example a car wash
- The vehicle is used for public services, business purposes or transporting goods
- The vehicle is a taxi, commercial vehicle or goods vehicle.
- Fill a water tank in a caravan or motorhome where it’s needed for essential washing, cooking and sanitation.
Cleaning exceptions
- As part of a professional service or business.
Prohibited uses during the hosepipe ban
- Watering a garden using a hosepipe
- Cleaning a private motor-vehicle (and trailers) using a hosepipe
- Watering plants on domestic or other non-commercial premises using a hosepipe
- Cleaning a private leisure boat using a hosepipe
- Filling or maintaining a domestic swimming or paddling pool
- Drawing water, using a hosepipe, for domestic recreational use
- Filling or maintaining a domestic pond using a hosepipe
- Filling or maintaining an ornamental fountain
- Cleaning walls or windows of domestic premises using a hosepipe
- Cleaning paths or patios using a hosepipe
- Cleaning other artificial outdoor surfaces using a hosepipe
