South West Water recently announced a hosepipe ban, according to the Chartered Institute of Plumbing and Heating Engineering (CIPHE), which published guidance on the rules on 15 May 2023. The CIPHE said other water companies could follow suit, adding that "hosepipe bans are temporary measures employed by water companies to help manage local supplies"1. The date the ban takes effect, the area it covers and how long it will last have not been reported.
The CIPHE set out what a ban covers. A hosepipe connected to the mains supply, whether from a tap inside or outside the home, cannot be used, and adapted systems such as irrigation systems, garden sprinklers and pressure washers fall under the ban too1. Its list of prohibited uses is below.
| Cannot use a mains hosepipe to | Can still do |
|---|---|
| Fill a paddling pool, swimming pool, hot tub or decorative pond | Use a watering can or bucket to water plants |
| Maintain a water fountain | Use a hosepipe to protect the welfare of animals, such as filling water buckets or keeping enough water in a pond for fish |
| Clean residential windows, walls, patios or artificial outdoor surfaces | Use a hose in an emergency, for unavoidable health and safety reasons |
| Clean a car | |
| Water plants and lawns |
The CIPHE states that while a hosepipe cannot be used, there is no ban on watering the garden by other means: "You can use a watering can or bucket to water plants instead"1. It adds that unless the water company brings in further restrictions, bans are primarily aimed at domestic use, and that agricultural and commercial businesses are allowed to use hosepipes, though it advises businesses to use water wisely and reduce waste1.
On enforcement, the CIPHE states: "You can be fined up to £1000, so ditch the hose and stick to the rules"1. It directs households to their water company for the full rules in their area, suggesting the water supply bill for contact details, or the Water UK supplier finder for those in England and Wales1.
"With a hosepipe ban recently being announced by South West Water, the spotlight is back on household water use"
Why it matters for households
Households in the area covered by the South West Water ban are affected from the date it takes effect, which has not been reported. For them, the change is that any use of a hosepipe fed from the mains, and of sprinklers, irrigation systems and pressure washers, is restricted, with the exceptions listed above. The CIPHE advises households to check the full rules with their own water company, and states that fines of up to £1000 can apply for breaking a ban1. Households outside the South West Water area are not affected by this announcement, though the CIPHE notes other companies could follow.
The site's guides cover the practical side: the water shortage and hosepipe ban checklist, how temporary use bans work, watering the garden, allotment and new lawn, paddling pools, ponds and car washing, what you can and cannot do, water company drought plans and the heatwaves and drought hub.
What happens next
No start date, end date or detailed conditions for the South West Water ban have been reported. The CIPHE states that water companies can bring in further restrictions, and that households should consult their supplier for the rules in their area1.
Sources (1)
- Hosepipe bans, ciphe.org.uk
Hosepipe Bans and the Garden
Pools, Ponds and Car Washing
Hosepipe Ban Rules
Water Company Drought Plans
Household Guide to Drought
