Although this has been good for farmers, gardeners, fish and wildlife in rivers, much more rain is needed to fill depleted groundwater stocks. Sadly this rain wasn’t available during the last two winters when groundwater levels are usually replenished. Rain during the summer months is largely taken by plant growth and evaporation.

May is also set to see lots of rain, though the water companies are still expecting to keep hosepipe bans in places for much of this year.

Environment secretary Caroline Spelman today raised the spectre of standpipes on English streets, something not seen on a large scale since 1976. She said: “Whereas it’s most unlikely we’d have standpipes this year, if we have another dry winter that becomes more likely.”

Thames Water said: “It is likely that the current temporary use ban, or ‘hosepipe ban’, will need to remain in place for the rest of the year. April’s rain has provided a short-term boost to river flows, which has allowed Thames Water to get its reservoirs to 100 per cent full, and keep them there for the time being, but it has not delivered the long-term solution.”

However, the Consumer Council for Water are not happy. Chairwoman Dame Yve Buckland had this to say: “It seems incredible that we are splashing around in floods, having had the wettest April on record and we are still seeing drought restrictions. We are going to seek clarification from Government, the Environment Agency and the companies at the highest level. We want to see the science and evidence that there is an on-going problem.”

Drought and hosepipe bans may run into next year as the situation becomes worse. Whilst heavy rain this summer may help, “Experts are now hoping for a steady rainy winter in 2012/13 to restore rivers and groundwaters” said the agency.

Water companies are now looking at ways to share water across company boundaries and reduce leaks as well as urging all users to save water, with of course hosepipe ban water restrictions for the worst affected areas. This is now becoming a case of limiting the damage this year but with a steady eye on next year, especially if winter 2012/2013 becomes the third in a row to have low rainfall.

Trevor Bishop, Head of Water Resources at the Environment Agency, said:

“A longer term drought, lasting until Christmas and perhaps beyond, now looks more likely – and we are working with businesses, farmers and water companies to plan ahead to meet the challenges of a continued drought. While we’ve had some welcome rain recently, the problem has not gone away, and we would urge everyone – right across the country – to use water wisely now, which will help to prevent more serious impacts next year.”

Whilst businesses are currently exempt from hosepipe bans, the Environment Agency is asking them to do their bit in saving water. At the same time they are pressing water companies to continue reducing the amount of leaking in their networks.

Ironically the risk of serious flooding is also becoming more widespread as ground becomes too compacted to absorb water.

The price of certain foods also continues to rise as crop yields fall, including beer and vegatables.

Affected counties newly added:

The South West region covers:

• Cornwall

• Devon

• Dorset

• Somerset

• Bristol

• South Gloucestershire

• Parts of Hampshire

• Most of Wiltshire.

The Midlands region covers:

• Nottinghamshire

• Leicestershire

• Derbyshire

• Staffordshire

• West Midlands

• Warwickshire

• Shropshire

• Worcestershire

• Herefordshire

• Gloucestershire

How many people have ever been fined for breaking a hosepipe ban? Difficult to find any in the last 30 years. So how many people will face the £1000 this year? Seemingly that’s up to you and I.

You see the water companies themselves don’t want to do it. A spokeswoman for Thames Water stated recently that they would spend nothing on either catching or prosecuting ‘offenders’. “No, we’ve got better things to do with our money, like fixing leaks.” they said. You couldn’t make it up.

Veolia Water were equally quick to pass the buck, stating: “Usually we would be the people that would take them to court, but it is technically a law. Anyone could do it. If you were really annoyed because your neighbour repeatedly flouted the law and we didn’t do anything, you could take them to court.”

So let’s examine the facts:

1) Water companies lose 3.36 billion litres of water per day through leaks
2) Water companies continue to make huge profits
3) Lack of rainfall over the last two years has helped put us into drought conditions, but fact 1) obviously doesn’t help
4) Joe Public is forced to adhere to a hosepipe ban at considerable discomfort and inconvenience, with a £1000 fine hanging over his head
5) Joe Public is asked to ‘grass-up’ (and potentially prosecute) naughty neighbours, causing who knows what sort of conflict
6) Water companies watch Joe Public dutifully help them continue with their business

Will you prosecute a neighbour for flouting the hosepipe ban rules and effectively become an unpaid employee of your local water supplier?

This commentary was made by a guest writer.

Any rainfall that does appear before then is very unlikely to replenish water stocks enough to be able to lift the hosepipe bans. Although rainfall would be welcome, most of any that comes will evaporate due to normal summer heat or be taken by summer vegetation.

Ideally water stocks are replenished during the colder months but two very dry winters have stopped this happening.

The situation isn’t getting better. March saw less than half the average rainfall for the month and unseasonably high temperatures made matters worse.

South East Water today warned “if the situation does not significantly improve, it may have to remove existing concessions, and introduce even wider restrictions, to protect both customers’ water supplies and the water environment.”

Several water companies have said that the hosepipe bans will be in place for at least the summer and that restrictions may become tighter.

The official drought zone – as decided by the Environment Agency – is slowly moving up the country and now extends to Teeside.

Will you stick to the rules of the hosepipe ban?

Is a hosepipe ban simply a result of not enough rain and therefore something you’re prepared to go along with in the interest of preserving what water we have? Or do you believe water companies and the government could do more and you resent the idea of paying water rates for something you can no longer receive?

Please note that your input is 100% anonymous.

You may also wish to leave a comment below. Again, this is 100% anonymous and we never share your details with anyone. If you’re still concerned, use a false email address.

Would you inform your local water company if you knew a neighbour was ignoring the hosepipe ban?

Are we all in this together and should people be taken to court for ignoring the ban? Perhaps you feel you couldn’t be so mean to ‘dob in’ a neighbour? Or do you simply not care what your neighbours get up to?

Please note that your input is 100% anonymous.

You may also wish to leave a comment below. Again, this is 100% anonymous and we never share your details with anyone. If you’re still concerned, use a false email address.

This is the statement Veolia Water Southeast have made regarding their hosepipe ban water restrictions starting on April 5th 2012.

We will now use this page as the definitive guide on Veolia Water Southeast’s restrictions and exemptions. Please therefore refer back here if you have seen something contradictory on another part of our site which may have been written when other rules applied.

You may comment or ask questions using the comments box at the bottom of this page.

Veolia Water Southeast’s statement:

The water-use restriction categories for the Temporary Use Ban are listed below. These restrictions will come into effect from Thursday 5 April 2012 until further notice.

• watering a garden using a hosepipe (except the watering of a field of play to be used for a national or international sporting event)

• cleaning a private motor-vehicle using a hosepipe

• watering plants on domestic or other non-commercial premises using a hosepipe (except by persons who are registered disabled and/or are of extreme frailty, conditional in each case upon prior written approval and the terms and conditions set out in the Exceptions Policy published on the Veolia Water website)

• cleaning a private leisure boat 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 walls, or windows, of domestic premises using a hosepipe

• cleaning paths or patios using a hosepipe

• cleaning other artificial outdoor surfaces using a hosepipe

The following information applies to each activity:

Legislation:
All eleven activities are covered by the Water Industry Act 1991 section 76 as amended by
the FWMA 2010 (i.e. temporary water use bans).

“Using a hosepipe”
The Water Use (Temporary Bans) Order 2010 provides the definition of “using a hosepipe” in
relation to the Water Industry Act 1991 as including:

a) Drawing relevant water through a hosepipe from a container and applying it for the
purpose; and
b) Filling or partly filling a container with relevant water by means of a hosepipe and applying
it for the purpose.

A reference to a hosepipe includes anything designed, adapted or used for the same purpose
as a hosepipe (Section 76A(5) of the Water Industry Act 1991).

“Relevant water” refers to mains water i.e. supplied by the water undertaker; it does not
include water supplied before the water use restriction was implemented.

For further definitions and exemptions, please see Veolia’s website: https://southeast.veoliawater.co.uk/docs/drought-restrictions-explained.pdf

Contact details here: Veolia Water Southeast

This is the statement Veolia Water Central have made regarding their hosepipe ban water restrictions starting on April 5th 2012.

We will now use this page as the definitive guide on Veolia Water Central’s restrictions and exemptions. Please therefore refer back here if you have seen something contradictory on another part of our site which may have been written when other rules applied.

You may comment or ask questions using the comments box at the bottom of this page.

Veolia Water Central’s statement:

The water-use restriction categories for the Temporary Use Ban are listed below. These restrictions will come into effect from Thursday 5 April 2012 until further notice.

• watering a garden using a hosepipe (except the watering of a field of play to be used for a national or international sporting event)

• cleaning a private motor-vehicle using a hosepipe

• watering plants on domestic or other non-commercial premises using a hosepipe (except by persons who are registered disabled and/or are of extreme frailty, conditional in each case upon prior written approval and the terms and conditions set out in the Exceptions Policy published on the Veolia Water website)

• cleaning a private leisure boat 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 walls, or windows, of domestic premises using a hosepipe

• cleaning paths or patios using a hosepipe

• cleaning other artificial outdoor surfaces using a hosepipe

The following information applies to each activity:

Legislation:
All eleven activities are covered by the Water Industry Act 1991 section 76 as amended by
the FWMA 2010 (i.e. temporary water use bans).

“Using a hosepipe”
The Water Use (Temporary Bans) Order 2010 provides the definition of “using a hosepipe” in
relation to the Water Industry Act 1991 as including:

a) Drawing relevant water through a hosepipe from a container and applying it for the
purpose; and
b) Filling or partly filling a container with relevant water by means of a hosepipe and applying
it for the purpose.

A reference to a hosepipe includes anything designed, adapted or used for the same purpose
as a hosepipe (Section 76A(5) of the Water Industry Act 1991).

“Relevant water” refers to mains water i.e. supplied by the water undertaker; it does not
include water supplied before the water use restriction was implemented.

For further definitions and exemptions, please see Veolia’s website: https://central.veoliawater.co.uk/docs/drought-restrictions-explained%281%29.pdf

Contact details here: Veolia Water Central

This is the statement South East Water have made regarding their hosepipe ban water restrictions starting on April 5th 2012.

We will now use this page as the definitive guide on South East Water’s restrictions and exemptions. Please therefore refer back here if you have seen something contradictory on another part of our site which may have been written when other rules applied.

You may comment or ask questions using the comments box at the bottom of this page.

South East Water’s statement:

South East Water gives notice that, pursuant to sections 76 and 76A-C of the Water Industry Act 1991, it prohibits from the beginning of 5 April 2012, throughout its entire area of supply (extending across parts of Kent, Surrey, Sussex, Hampshire and Berkshire), the following uses of potable water supplied by it (that is water treated to drinkable standards).

A full explanation of the definitions used is given beneath the table.

(a) Watering a garden using a hosepipe
(b) Cleaning a private motor-vehicle (or a trailer for such a vehicle) using a hosepipe
(c) Watering plants on domestic or other non-commercial premises using a hosepipe
(d) Cleaning a private leisure boat using a hosepipe
(e) Filling or maintaining a domestic swimming or paddling pool
(f) Drawing water, using a hosepipe, for domestic recreational use
(g) Filling or maintaining a domestic pond (manmade or natural) using a hosepipe
(h) Filling or maintaining an ornamental fountain (including a cascade or any other display of moving water, and includes filling by permanent plumbing)
(i) Cleaning walls, or windows, of domestic premises using a hosepipe
(j) Cleaning paths or patios using a hosepipe
(k) Cleaning other artificial outdoor surfaces using a hosepipe

Exemptions:

The following will be exempted from the restriction:

i) using a hosepipe in a garden or for cleaning walls or windows of domestic premises, paths or patios, a private leisure boat or an artificial outdoor surface, where such use is necessary for health and safety reasons;

ii) watering a garden attached to a domestic dwelling or watering plants on domestic premises using a hosepipe, by people with severe mobility problems who hold a current Blue Badge as issued by their local authority;

iii) using a hosepipe to clean a private motor vehicle, private leisure boat or walls and windows of domestic premises, where this is done as a service to customers in the course of a business;

iv) using a hosepipe to water an area of grass or outdoor artificial surfaces used for sport or recreation, where this is required in connection with a national or international sports event;

v) drip or trickle irrigation watering systems, fitted with a pressure reducing valve and a timer, that are not handheld, that place water drip by drip directly onto the soil surface or beneath the soil surface, without any surface run off or dispersion of water through the air using a jet or mist;

vi) maintaining a domestic swimming pool with a water conservation recycling system;

Customers should note that a number of concessions earlier proposed have been withdrawn. [our highlight]

Definitions:

For the meaning of certain terms used in this notice and specific exceptions from the prohibitions, see the Water Use (Temporary Bans) Order 2010. Amongst other things, that Order defines:

(a) using a hosepipe to include both drawing water supplied by South East Water at the time of the prohibition through a hosepipe from a container and also filling or partly filling a container with such water by means of a hosepipe;

(b) garden to include a park, gardens open to the public, a lawn, a grass verge, an area of grass used for sport or recreation, an allotment garden as defined in section 22(1) of the Allotments Act 1922, any area of allotment used for non-commercial purposes and any other green space; and

(c) health and safety to include removing or minimising any risk to human or animal health or safety and preventing or controlling the spread of causative agents or disease.

The topping up of an established domestic pond is also permitted if the welfare of fish in the pond is at risk.

For the purposes of the prohibitions relating to the use of a hosepipe, the prohibitions apply whether or not any device such as a sprinkler is attached to the hosepipe.

Any person who contravenes any of these prohibitions is guilty of an offence, and is liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding £1,000.

Contact details here: South East Water

This is the statement Sutton and East Surrey Water have made regarding their hosepipe ban water restrictions starting on April 5th 2012.

We will now use this page as the definitive guide on Sutton and East Surrey Water’s restrictions and exemptions. Please therefore refer back here if you have seen something contradictory on another part of our site which may have been written when other rules applied.

You may comment or ask questions using the comments box at the bottom of this page.

Sutton and East Surrey Water’s statement: (ORIGINAL STATEMENT – SEE BELOW FOR CHANGES FOLLOWING CONSULTATION PERIOD)

Prohibited uses

Using a hosepipe, including using sprinklers, dripper hoses, automatic irrigation systems and similar
devices, for the following purposes:

• the watering of gardens;

• cleaning a private motor-vehicle;

• watering plants in outdoor pots or in the ground under cover on domestic or other non-

• commercial premises;

• cleaning a private leisure boat using a hosepipe;

• drawing water for domestic recreational use;

• filling or maintaining a domestic pond;

• cleaning the external walls or windows of domestic premises;

• cleaning paths or patios;

• cleaning other artificial outdoor surfaces.

Using any means of drawing water, except a handheld container filled from a tap, for the following
purposes:

• filling or maintaining a domestic swimming or paddling pool;

• filling or maintaining an ornamental fountain.

Exceptions from this Notice

The following gardens are excepted from the prohibition in this Notice:

• Gardens open to the public;

• An area of grass used for sport or recreation.

The following class of user is excepted from the prohibition in relation to cleaning private motor-
vehicles:

• Users who clean private motor vehicles for remuneration in the course of a trade or business.

The following class of user is excepted from the prohibition in relation to cleaning walls, or windows,
of domestic premises:

• Users who clean walls or windows of domestic premises for remuneration in the course of a trade or business.

The following classes of user are excepted from the prohibition in this Notice:

• Any person who is over the statutory retirement age or is registered disabled and who has submitted to the company a letter from a general practitioner demonstrating a need to use a hosepipe for the prohibited purposes or to fill or maintain a domestic swimming or paddling pool or ornamental fountain.

EXPLANATORY NOTE

By virtue of the Water Use (Temporary Bans) Order 2010:
“Using a hosepipe” includes:

• Drawing water supplied by the company from a container through a hosepipe; and

• Filling a container by means of a hosepipe with water supplied by the company.

A “garden” includes:

• a park

• a lawn;

• a grass verge;

• an allotment garden, as defined in section 22(1) of the Allotments Act 1922;

• any area of an allotment used for non-commercial purposes;

• any other green space.

Following the consultation period, amendments have been made to the original notice given above. Here is the latest statement in its entirety:

SUTTON AND EAST SURREY WATER PLC

VARIATION OF PROHIBITION ON USE OF WATER – PHASE 2

Water Industry Act 1991 – Sections 76 & 76a
Water Use (Temporary Bans) Order 2010

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that, with effect from 0800hrs on Thursday 5 April 2012 until further notice, the prohibition in the Notice entitled “Prohibition on Use of Water – Phase 2″ and having effect from 0800hrs on Thursday 5 April 2012 is to be varied as follows:

Part 1:    Area in which the use of water is prohibited
Unchanged.

Part 2:    Prohibited uses
Unchanged:

Part 3:    Exceptions from the Notice

The exceptions in the original prohibition are deleted in their entirety and substituted as follows:

“The following devices are excepted from the prohibition in this Notice in relation to the watering of gardens:

• Automatic irrigation systems, provided that they comply with all of the following conditions:

• The water supply to which the device is connected must be one which is charged to the user by reference to volume by meter belonging to Sutton and East Surrey Water plc;

• No part of the system may be handheld

• The system must incorporate a pressure reducing valve;

• The system must incorporate a time clock control;

• The system must deliver water by means of a drip or trickle system;

• The system must not disperse water through the air by means of sprinkler, jet, mister or similar device;

• The system must deliver water directly either on to the surface of the soil or under the surface of the soil;

• The system must not cause any surface water run-off.

The following gardens are excepted from the prohibition in this Notice:

• Gardens open to the public;

• An area of grass used for sport or recreation.

The following class of user is excepted from the prohibition in this Notice in relation to cleaning private motor-vehicles:

• Users who clean private motor vehicles for remuneration in the course of a trade or business.

The following class of user is excepted from the prohibition in this Notice in relation to cleaning walls, or windows, of domestic premises:

• Users who clean walls or windows of domestic premises for remuneration in the course of a trade or business.

The following class of user is excepted from the prohibition in this Notice in relation to cleaning paths or patios:

• Users who clean paths or patios for remuneration in the course of a trade or business.

The following classes of user are excepted from the prohibition in this Notice:

• Any person who has written dispensation from Sutton and East Surrey Water plc as a result of demonstrating a need, arising from disability, medical condition or similar, to use a hosepipe for the prohibited purposes or to fill or maintain a domestic swimming or paddling pool or ornamental fountain.”

Any person who contravenes the Prohibition as varied is guilty of an offence and liable on summary conviction to a fine.

Any person wishing to make representations about this Notice must do so in writing to me at the address below or by email to representations@waterplc.com and must ensure that it is received by Sutton and East Surrey Water plc no later than 0800hrs on Wednesday 4 April 2012.

Michael Hegarty
Operations Director
Sutton and East Surrey Water plc
London Road
Redhill
Surrey
RH1 1LJ

EXPLANATORY NOTE

(This note is not part of the Notice)

The purpose of this Notice is to vary the exceptions to the original Phase 2 prohibition Notice, which has been published and is due to come into force at 0800hrs on 5th April 2012. The variations have come about as a result of the consultation process triggered by the publication of the original prohibition. The variations will take effect at the same time as the original prohibition.

For the sake of simplicity, the entire set of exceptions as varied is reproduced in this Notice, but the differences between the varied exceptions and the original exceptions are:

• Automatic irrigation systems have been excepted from the prohibition in relation to the watering of gardens, provided that they comply with specified conditions;

• The commercial cleaning of paths and patios has been excepted;

• The exception for individuals who have specific needs has been varied to widen the categories of consumer to whom it is available and to allow other forms of proof of need than a GP’s letter (which will still be an acceptable form of proof), but to add a requirement that the exception does not apply until written dispensation has been received from the Company.

Contact details here: Sutton and East Surrey Water