Hosepipe ban: Where in UK is it being imposed and what will happen if you break it?

People who fail to comply with the ban could be faced with a hefty fine

From 5 August, millions of people living in the North West of England are going to be affected by hosepipe ban following what is believed to be the longest heatwave in the UK since 1976.

The hosepipe ban, otherwise known as a ‘Temporary Use Ban (TUB)’ is being enforced by water company United Utilities.

With many faced with the prospect of being disallowed from using hosepipes or sprinklers on their properties, people who fail to meet with the new regulations in the affected areas could be met with hefty fines.

Where is the hosepipe ban in place?

United Utilities is administering the hosepipe ban across Cumbria, Greater Manchester, Merseyside, Lancashire and Cheshire.

Earlier this month, NI Water announced that it would be putting a hosepipe ban in place across Northern Ireland in order to encourage its customers to conserve their water during the prolonged heatwave.

While the newly introduced hosepipe ban in England will be widespread, there are some areas that won’t be affected despite being catered by United Utilities.

People living in Carlisle and north Eden Valley will not be required to fall in line with the ban, as they’ve managed to maintain sufficient water levels by sourcing water from local sources.

Will the hosepipe ban come into effect in the south?

The hosepipe ban is currently not being implemented in the south of England. However, Severn Trent Water, which supplies water across mid-Wales, Rutland, the Humber and the Bristol Channel, has advised for its customers to be particularly diligent with their water use.

“The continued hot weather means we’re seeing a massive increase in water demand across our area,” said Doug Clarke, water efficiency and education manager.

“Our engineers are working round the clock to make sure our customers are getting essential supplies of drinking water and we’re pumping an extra 300 million litres in to supply every day.”

South East Water, which supplies water to individuals living in Kent, Sussex, Surrey, Hampshire and Berkshire, has asked for its customers to use less water in their homes if possible.

“We are asking our customers to avoid non-essential water use, such as sprinklers, to help us make sure there is enough water for everyone,” said Steve George, customer services director.

“Our water supplies are good for this time of year - but in the same way that motorways can become jammed when rush-hour is busier than normal - using water sprinklers and hosepipes adds huge pressure to the normal peak-period demands of the dishwasher or washing machine, showering and bathing, and toilet flushing, and our water network simply cannot deliver the water quickly enough.”

Furthermore, In June water company Thames Water announced that it would be pumping an extra 450 million litres of water into its network in order to meet with demand during the heatwave.

What happens if you break the ban?

Failure to comply with the hosepipe ban, which includes doing things like using a hosepipe to water your garden, clean your car, fill a paddling pool and clean windows, can lead to a sizeable fine.

If you’re found guilty of breaking the hosepipe ban, you may have to pay up to £1,000 for the offence.

There are some exceptions to the ban, as outlined by United Utilities.

If you have to use a hosepipe for health and safety reasons, to water plants that are grown for commercial use or to fill a pool in which animals are kept, then you can contact the water company prior to the ban in order to be granted permission.

However, this has to be done either by phone or online by 5pm on 4 August, the day before the ban comes into effect.

In some specific cases, people who regularly use hosepipes in the areas affected by the ban won’t have to contact the water company for permission at all.

Some examples of these instances include if an individual with a Blue Badge uses a hosepipe to water their garden or clean their windows, if people use hosepipes daily as part of their businesses or if they’re filling a fountain that bears religious importance.

Can you use a watering can?

You can still carry out activities such as cleaning your car or watering your garden if you do so using water from a bucket or a watering can.

You can also use water that's been sourced from somewhere other than the mains supply, such as rainwater or grey water, which comes from baths, sinks and washing machines.

How else can you save water?

Numerous water companies have outlined tips on how you can preserve water during the sweltering summer.

According to United Utilities, cutting your time in the shower short by as little as a minute can make a huge difference if everyone in the household follows suit.

Moreover, turning off the tap while you're brushing your teeth is a very simple way to avoid wasting water in unnecessary circumstances.

Severn Trent Water states that using a dishwasher as opposed to washing up your dishes by hand can be extremely beneficial, as modern dishwashers are very efficient.

Moreover, South East Water recommends opting to go to the beach to cool off instead of using your own paddling pool.