Five water authorities in the United Kingdom have imposed hosepipe bans on more than 11 million customers, with more restrictions anticipated as a heatwave grips the country. Southern, South East, Cambridge, and Anglian Water, along with Affinity Water, have ordered customers not to use hosepipes, threatening fines of up to £1,000.
This comes despite significant rainfall earlier in the year, with some parts of Britain experiencing the wettest winter in 190 years. Rainfall in the south of England was 58% heavier than average during the first three months of the year.
Meanwhile, water company executives have reportedly awarded themselves £112 million in bonuses and incentive payments over the past decade. The enforcement of hosepipe bans has also been questioned, with reports indicating that no company has imposed a fine in the 35 years since the Water Industry Act was introduced in 1991.
Exemptions and Loopholes
The current regulations include several exemptions that permit the continued use of hosepipes, even during temporary use bans. These exemptions cover a range of circumstances, including health reasons, specific gardening needs, and essential construction or cleaning tasks.
Health and Disability Considerations
Individuals with certain health conditions or disabilities are automatically exempt. This includes those registered as disabled, requiring additional support, or having conditions such as dementia, developmental conditions like dyslexia or ADHD, physical impairments, or visual impairments. Anglian Water's Priority Service Register explicitly states that customers unable to make reasonable adjustments due to a health condition or disability may be covered by an exception.
Gardening and Food Production
Water usage for growing vegetables is permitted, particularly for allotments or home gardens where a watering can may be impractical. Young trees, saplings, whips, and hedging planted within the last three years are also eligible for hosepipe watering. New lawns can be watered with a sprinkler for 28 days after installation to aid establishment.
Construction, Cleaning, and Other Exemptions
Builders can use hosepipes to mix cement, though not for washing down surfaces. Professional cleaning companies are allowed to wash down paths and patios for health and safety reasons. Swimming pools can be filled for the first time after construction, and buckets can be used to top up paddling pools or wash vehicles. Commercial car washes remain unaffected.
Boats may have their enclosed interior spaces cleaned with a hosepipe, but decks cannot be hosed down. Motorhome owners are permitted to use a hose to top up water tanks for essential functions like flushing toilets and filling sinks, but not for washing the vehicle.
Water Sources and Specific Uses
Rainwater collected in waterbutts can be used with a hose. Reusing bathwater, known as greywater harvesting, is also an option, though potential harm to plants from chemicals should be considered. Placing a bucket under a shower to collect warm-up water is another method.
Fixed irrigation systems that spray water from holes in pipes are allowed, provided they are used during off-peak hours and fitted with a pressure-reducing valve. Fishponds can be topped up, and fountains used for oxygenation are permitted. Notably, ornamental fountains can continue to operate if they are declared to have religious or spiritual significance.
Public Gardens and Animal Welfare
Gardens open to the public are exempt and can use unlimited water to maintain their grounds. The rules also allow for the use of hoses to keep animals safe, clean, and healthy, including filling drinking troughs and hosing down animals to keep them cool or clean, and sluicing pens and stables.
Private Water Supplies
Individuals with their own private water supply can legally extract up to 20 tons of water per day, provided they can locate and access the source, potentially by sinking a borehole.