Millions of households across England are facing water restrictions after the Met Office confirmed that certain parts of the country are enduring their longest dry spell on record. The hosepipe ban, which applies to any device connected to the mains supply, prohibits several common cleaning tasks.
Southwest Water clarified that a hosepipe ban includes "anything that connects to the mains supply, it applies to sprinklers, irrigation systems and pressure washers as well as to hosepipes".
Prohibited cleaning tasks
- 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
- Cleaning a private motor-vehicle (and trailers) using a hosepipe
Other prohibited activities
- Watering a garden using a hosepipe
- Watering plants on domestic or other non-commercial premises 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 a private leisure boat using a hosepipe
General exceptions
- You are on the 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
Cleaning exceptions
Professional services or businesses are exempt.
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Garden exceptions
- Trees, hedges and saplings planted within the last planting season, where watering with a watering can is not feasible
- Turf laid within the last 28 days
- Newly-bought plants for the first 14 days after purchase
- Food crops grown at home or on a private allotment, where using a watering can is not feasible
- Sports pitches and surfaces where watering is necessary, outside peak hours (8-10am and 5-9pm)
- Using an irrigation system that drips or trickles, with a time and pressure-reducing valve delivering water directly to soil
- Filling a pond to keep fish or other aquatic animals healthy
- Where a pond or pool is used as part of a recognised religious practice
There is no restriction on using a watering can in the garden. Watering is most efficient if done at a cooler time of day – early morning or late evening.
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, e.g. 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
- Filling a water tank in a caravan or motorhome for essential washing, cooking and sanitation
