Hosepipe ban do's and dont's
Millions of UK households have now been hit with restriction's from the hosepipe ban which is in force and coming into force within the next week for many counties across the UK.
How does a hosepipe ban effect you?
A hosepipe ban is a official restriction imposed by water authorities on its customers which restricts the use of hosepipes and use of water during a water shortage.
You can check if your are affected by the restrictions by contacting your local water authority (this is who you pay your water bill to), visiting their website or checking here for the latest hosepipe ban areas
Hosepipe Ban: Current Situation - Hosepipe Ban
What is not allowed during a hosepipe ban?
You cannot use a hosepipe, pressure washer, sprinkler or spray gun for domestic or allotment use unless you have obtained official permission to do so.
- Water a garden or domestic allotment with a hosepipe
- Washing a private car with a hosepipe or pressure washer
- Washing a private boat with a hosepipe or pressure washer
- Filling of domestic swimming or paddling pools
- Getting water from a hosepipe for domestic use
-Filling or maintaining an ornamental fountain
- Washing walls windows or other domestic areas with a hosepipe
- Washing or clearning driveways, patios or decking with a hosepipe or pressure washer
- Cleaning artificial surfaces such as lawns with a hosepipe or pressure washer
What us allowed during a hosepipe ban?
You can still water your garden by filling a watering can or bucket preferably from a water butt as this will save the most water. You can use drip irrigation systems as this saves between 70-90% of water compared with hand watering using a hosepipe.
If your lawn as been laid within the last 28 days watering is still permitted.
Using a watering can filled from a water butt is a great way to keep your garden looking green during times of drought. A water butt can fill up quickly from even a short downpour so once installed even when a hosepipe ban is being enforced any rain that does fall can be collected and given to the plants that need it the most within a garden.
Baskets and planters tend to dry up sooner so its important to keep them watered during the dryer months. Its a good idea to top these with mulch or small stones as this can help keep what little water there is in the soil longer by reducing evaporation.
Where can you find details of the restrictions in your area?
Its always best to check out the latest advice supplied by your own local water authority as rules may vary from county to county. below is a list of the main water suppliers in the UK.
Yorkshire water - Yorkshire Water - Water company
Anglian Water – http://www.anglianwater.co.uk/
South East Water – http://www.southeastwater.co.uk/
Southern Water – https://www.southernwater.co.uk/
Affinity Water https://www.affinitywater.co.uk/
Sutton and East Surrey Water http://www.waterplc.com/index.asp
Thames Water https://www.thameswater.co.uk/
Northumbrian water -Northumbrian Water (nwl.co.uk)
Wessex Water https://www.wessexwater.co.uk/
United Utilities https://www.unitedutilities.com/
The current message form all the UK water authorities is that we all need to play our part in conserving water. The demand for water is the UK is overwhelming the supply after the prolonged period of hot dry weather that we have been experiencing. In July just 15.8mm of rain was recorded which is only 24% of the average rain that usually falls in the UK.
An official drought has been declared over large areas of the UK, whether its switching to a shower instead of a bath, watering plants with grey water from your kitchen sink or installing a water butt that can collect rainwater all year round to be used on gardens rather than using treated tap water through a hosepipe we can all do our bit to waste less of our precious water.