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Hosepipe Ban: Current Situation

February 12th 2024

There are currently no hosepipe bans in the UK.

The hosepipe ban that lasted over a year in the South West Water region has now ended.

The hosepipe ban in the South East Water covering the Kent and Sussex regions has now ended (05/08/23).

The hosepipe ban in the Yorkshire Water region has now ended (06/12/22).

The hosepipe ban in parts of the Welsh Water region has now ended (25/10/2022).

The hosepipe ban throughout Hampshire and the Isle of Wight has now ended (04/11/2022).

The hosepipe in the Thames Water region has now ended (22/11/2022).

The hosepipe ban in Kent and Sussex has now ended (30/11/2022).

The hosepipe ban in the Yorkshire Water region has now ended (06/12/22).

We will update this page as and when changes occur. Please also see our Latest News and Home pages for more information.

624 replies on “Hosepipe Ban: Current Situation”

I must be missing something but I thought that water companies were meant to arrange compensation in the event of hosepipe bans. I am in SE Water’s region and the upcoming ban is not for a lack of water but rather their failure to process enough of it.

https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2010/29/section/36
‘A water undertaker which issues a prohibition must make arrangements for a reasonable reduction of charges which are made in respect of prohibited uses (including arrangements for repayment or credit where charges are paid in advance).’

I have a sub meter on my outside tap and when I wash the car using the jet wash it uses 25 litres plus a 10 litre bucket of soapy water, so 35 litres in total. When I wash the car using 10 litre buckets it takes 7-9 buckets to wash and rinse, totaling up to 90 litres. Similar with washing out the wheelie bins; 5-10 litres with the jet wash but 20+ litres using buckets. My water usage and therefore my water bill has sky rocketed since the hose pipe ban. It makes no sense to be using buckets of water when an efficient high pressure jet wash with precision spray uses so much less.

I 100% agree with this. My water bill has hit the roof. The only thing I have done different is use buckets of water to wash things such as the car. Most hoses these days have triggers / guns so can be used sensibly without a constant running of wasted water

We live in Torbay and come under the biggest culprit for water wastage S. W. W. we have rain for 6 weeks so how on earth can we be on a hosepipe ban until December.

So, you’re washing your car knowingly using a method that uses more water during hosepipe bans, and it’s the system that’s to blame? Do you need to be spoon-fed common sense?

As a disabled person, I now have to carry and lift several buckets of water to clean out by bins rather than presumably using less water just to quickly hose them down. There need to be reasonable exceptions for the disabled and the elderly who might physically struggle.

There are. If you are disabled or elderly and infirm (like me), then you just have to inform the relevant water authority and they will exempt you.

So during a hosepipe ban it is illegal for domestic users to use a hosepipe to water their personal Vegetable and Fruit Crops but they can legally use a hosepipe to fill their Hot Tub ? …

Insanity

It depends on your water company’s definition of the current ban. Things vary. But in most cases it’s any domestic use that doesn’t pertain to business. There is also be a clause that says “drawing water, using a hosepipe, for domestic recreational use” as it does for Yorkshire water!

If these VERY rich executives used some of their obscene bonuses to repair the massive leaks that are throughout the country perhaps they’d have sufficient water instead of imposing this ban.

Do some research and you will find that they are starving people across the World! 105 food processing /fertiliser plants have mysteriously burn down since January in the USA alone.

Imagine the tons of water it will take to make insects into food….indeed, it may result in greater lack of water, not to mention lack of nutrition. And then a great many of us will die.

That is, of course, what the WEF, Schwab-Gates, et al, are planning…but wait, I forget Chuck the Turd; the king of this benighted land is a globalist; his lack of moral sense is apparently approved of by the state church and its execrable leader, Justin Welby (about whom his spiritual adviser early on said he should get nowhere near Canterbury, so shoddy was his theology)

As for me, I intend to ignore the hosepipe ban, pure and simple. If the councils in Cornwall had not been so greedy as to build far too many homes–or should I say second homes?–there would probably be no problem despite the decrepit condition of the pipes used by the local water systems. So they can sing for it. If they want to fine me, they can do that. But it will simply cause me to resurrect the profession from which I retired several years ago: Journalism. And I’ll be quite happy to broadcast all their horse hockey in any and all publications I can reach.

Today some 585 million m3 of water per year are desalinated in the State of Israel. The Soreq plant provides 150 million m3 per year, the Hadera plant 127 million, the Ashkelon plant 118 million, the Palmachim plant 90 million, and the Ashdod plant 100 million.
Our lot have just been fiddling whilst Rome (sun)barns.

Have you looked at how much carbon dioxide is produced by the desalination plants? I guess that in Israel it may all be done by solar heating but I doubt it. Just bear in mind that the current problems are all caused by global warming, most from CO2 and Methane in the atmosphere. If we wanted to desalinate water in the UK it would all be done by burning fossil fuels.

Thank you. It’s important that we join the dots.
Whilst individual actions have a role to play, it’s the water company’s failure to ensure pipes are properly maintained that makes this such a big issue. They are too busy making profits.

Don’t talk a load of rubbish. The “current problems” are nothing to do with “global warming” and climates – it’s called weather. We have had worse periods of droughts before but of course that doesn’t fit the leftist eco emergency group think. The much fabled IPCC report (the actual one, not the political summary one) does not attribute any recent extreme weather events down to climate change.

The change in weather patterns is due to a rise in temperatures due to climate change!

Global warming started as our planet came out of the Little Ice Age, so about 1800-1850. warming since then has been good; I wouldn’t want winter nights to be 2C colder on average.
CO2 is plant food; commercial greenhouses enrich their growing areas to double the natural concentration, or more.
Methane, as you know, is measured in parts per billion, [so like looking for all [3] men over seven feet, two inches tall in London’s teeming millions, if you like] and in real life its effect on warming is completely covered by water vapour. about 70% of our planet is covered with water – so we can’t get away from that….

It’s a good idea for hot countries but a huge waste of money for a country that has not stopped raining for the last six weeks….these plants cost billions….only to be sat doing nothing for 10 months of the year.

Desalinisation is very expensive. Thames Water has a plant for emergency use but they decommissioned it a couple of years ago. They also sold off 5 reservoirs for housing on privatisation. The unpalatable truth is, any industry that has to take a long term view should be in public ownership. The profit motive encourages short term thinking and ensures long term disasters.

That can be done but is expensive without hot sun. To the moderator: Why do you cancel every ordinary comment I make. What are you afraid of? My comments are not rude or accusing. I mentioned global warming once. It appears that a strong cancel culture is working here. Legitimate comments should be okay. Not everybody will think the same as you. We still partially live in a free country. I honestly don’t understand your fear. We musn’t be afraid of truth. I await to be cancelled again to prove my point. At least to me. Nobody else will know which suits your cancelling antics. My eyes have been opened.

We don’t cancel comments Tony and fully welcome all opinions. There has been a server issue for the last couple of days and that’s slowed down the process of moderation. Apologies, it’s fixed now.

Expensive to do. Malta does it as there is little fresh water or rain. We need to use grey water and deserve our drinking water for drinking and cooking. Using quality water to flush your loo or water your garden is wasteful

If we all use hosepipes the water will evaporate into the atmosphere and fill the clouds with moisture and cause it to rain. Ta da.

We shouldn’t need a hosepipe ban in 2022! There is so much waste of water going on. Just driven past my local Nissan dealership and there’s a man out there hosing down all the cars – totally unnecessary. I’d say the same about gardens. It’s all modern vanity that drives stupid human decisions like these. I read this morning that crops are dying in fields due to lack of water. Which is more important, a shiny car and pretty lawn, or food on the table?

So you are actually saying that the man hiding down cars is wasting water, and people watering their garden with a hosepipe are wasting water. therefore you are supporting a hosepipe ban? What else do you use a hosepipe for?

I’m saying that if people used water more carefully we wouldn’t need a hosepipe ban. Obviously we do now need one.

People use hosepipes for many things including but not exhaustive to-
* filling up water troughs for animals
* cleaning cars
* filling up paddling pools/hot tubs etc
* Swilling down animal enclosures
* cleaning bird muck off patios etc
* watering fruits/vegetables/plants
* cleaning out wheelie bins
* linked to jet and pressure washers
* building jobs such as getting water to mix concrete etc
* topping up ponds
*Many more besides.
I’m sure depending on who you ask you will get different responses to which are necessary and which are unnecessary. Lots of these things are not hosepipe exclusive! They can be done in other ways.

We build on green and brown belt too often,also most houses don’t have lawns anymore just paved all over.
Too much concrete!

I agree. In Basingstoke they are destroying woods, fields etc. to build houses concrete, houses concrete. What are we doing to this beautiful island? No wonder people need holidays.

It seems ridiculous to have to say this, but there were a few comments saying desalination would help with rising sea levels, so: Desalination will not help mitigate rising sea levels. Any water that you take out of the sea and desalinate for use as drinking water will very quickly run back into the sea after use. Also the amount of water taken out of the sea for use as drinking water would be such a miniscule fraction that it would have no noticeable impact on sea levels, even if we were to then store that water in reservoirs on land.

Further, desalination is a highly energy intensive process, and depending on how that energy is generated (e.g. if its from fossil fuels), the process as a whole could be a contributor to climate change and rising sea levels .

We should plant more trees as it reduces amount of water entering the rivers and it saves the soil. The roots of trees break up the soil so that more water can be absorbed into the soil so less water runs away into the rivers. Trees also provide a natural defence against floods.
This may help to prevent droughts and formation of desert areas.
We buy all our fruits so dont bother to plant any fruits trees in our gardens anymore.

I totally agree with this. I have planted trees as they also provide shelter and help to maintain soil stability

Totally agree with planting of more trees and there should be a limit on how much concrete households can put down. The Councils should enforce the rules and not be so toothless.

Personally, I think they’ve got a bloody cheek raising my 7% and then telling there’s going to be a hosepipe ban and refusing to pay compensation.

You want compensation for the fact we have had next no rain for 8 weeks?
Lets just say the regulator steps in and makes the water companies pay compensation (laughable concept but hey, this is your fantasy). Where does the money come from? The leak fixing budget.. Problem gets worse.
Alternative they charge you 6%more for the next ten years to claw it back…
You realy need to think this stuff through over more than just right here right now…

I just don’t get it. Why in the Uk the autority are not prepared abaut water shortages in case of draughty Is not fair I can not my little garden with my vegetable and plant. When they leaving the piipe bursting in street for days loosing milion of gallons of fresh water. That is not fair That is crazy

I agree. When the rain does come we also need to attenuate the flood flow to capture as much as possible. Plant more trees over the watersheds, put trees, bushes & meanders back into river banks. Say water that arrives at the coast due to heavy rainfall is a failure of capture planning

I’ve had a great crop of apples, plums, blueberries and blackberries from my fruit trees this year, also tomatoes and red peppers. I know lots of gardeners with fruit trees!
I also invested in solar panels years ago and use dishwater to water my plants.
What do you do?

In other words de salination plants are virtuall use less as a back up to domestic o industrial supplies. How ever there is a case that in genuine extreme drought with no tap water available the could be considered as strategic back up to proved drinking water delivered byroad etc transport to domestics and vital e.g. Hospital services.It would be a national disgrace if such a situation came to pass.

Desalination plants can provide water for crops as well as drinking water. A mass pipe network in various parts of the world could help with improved crops, clean water, reduce illness, replenish water in reservoirs. It won’t stop levels at sea rising but it will slow it down while saving lives. Consider crop failures worldwide.

Desalination plants could be powered by tidal power.
We should be using is tidal power not wind to generate electricity (not to be confused with wave power which needs wind).
After all we are an island, and tidal power only stops for a short time when the tide turns, high tide is at different times around the UK so it will not stop everywhere at the same time.
As for rising sea levels, the water could be used for irrigation on farms as well, but it would be replacing the water currently used so would not have much effect on it.
Desalination plants could help clean the sea by filtering out the micro plastics and we would not be drinking water that has been recycled over and over from our waste water as much.

My Husband works in the wind power industry and has been saying this exact same thing for years! Tidal power is the future

Several tidal power schemes have been tried, like the ‘Pelamis’, but the sea is so violent and corrosive that it can destroy pretty much anything. The amount of recoverable power is small and few places are suitable.

Norway has a surplus of electricity due to their high waterfalls which are used to power the elelctricity. They must have a good surplus of water as well. Our solution must be a different one though.

Tidal power would restrict shipping and damage environment. There are modern tidal methods but rather difficult and expensive to install. We don’t have enough sunlight to power desalination plants. We have lived with hosepipe bans for many years.
Leaks are being caused by the dry land so is a current problem. My village has had nearly a dozen leaks in the past month resulting in no water.

The costs of tidal power pail into insignificance when compared to nuclear power. Tidal power almost makes perfect sense. Shipping is restricted by off shore wind, shipping lanes can be managed. However, there are environmental issues with off shore wind, there are nasty affects on the crab and lobster populations due to the electro magnetic radiation from the undersea cables and this would also apply to tidal power also. If anyone was in any doubt that nuclear power is a liability, just look at the current situation in Ukraine. We need to radically reduce energy consumption and the easiest and most cost effective way of doing that is insulation. Rather than subsidise the installation of heatpumps that require insulation to make them effective, insulate houses and reduce gas and electricity consumption.

Totally agree. Was told by a friend of mine from John’s Hopkins that the tidal power machines are much better than wind power. Plus not as ugly. If you power desalination by green energy it is well worth it. It is irrelevant really for sea levels but people, crops and animals need water. Living on an island with our technology we should never run out of drinking water.

Just dump the excess water in space

This idea is trade marked by me don’t even think about stealing it or I will bring the full force of my lawyers down on you! (Once I hire them)

Combine that with Making it international law that every garden has to have a pool filled with sea water.the rising sea levels sorted.
Next problem please

Maria,
Sea levels are rising – but very slowly. Best estimate – the Earth is geoid, and the rise is small, so it’s difficult to measure accurately – is a little over a millimetre a year – one row of bricks in a couple of generations.
There is no acceleration in this rise.
It has been steady – so far as can be measured – since the early Nineteenth Century. I think it will continue to rise at the rate of the thickness of a finger in twenty-five years for the rest of my lifetime, probably, too, for the rest of this century.
Isostatic rebound – after the glaciers left – mean that the island of Great Britain is gently tipping down in the south and east [hence some coats are experiencing coastal erosion, though storms. Perfectly natural – even if devastating for those whose homes are at risk – or lost.

No seas have risen yet. The same beaches are still there. You may get a tidal wave occasionally but most of it is fear mongering to bring about globalism.

We are in the situation because the water companies are not investing in reservoirs / water capture and treatment works causing sewage overspill into rivers at sea
Population of infrastructure increases need to be catered for by the privatised companies not restricted services to the customer

We are an island surrounded by water. We are spending millions on renewable energy but nowhere do I see money money being spent on desalination plants. Just a thought in this current climate of global warming.

I totally agree. I live on Fuerteventura where all of the water is desalinated. And it works very well. If every country reserved drinking water for drinking ONLY, and not for car washing, toilet flushing and plant watering we would be a long way to solving problems. Of course, desalination worldwide would also help with rising sea levels

Yeah just leave the toilet full of shit. Lovely. Just dump your crap on the street, hell chuck it out of the window like the middle ages.

I always think “If it’s yellow let it mellow. If it’s Brown flush it down.”

Duh!! I think what he means is that we should used grey water harvesting where it is not being consumed!!

Seawater flushes away toilet mess and actually disinfects it. I had to live this way in Hong Kong for five months. No great strain.

With so much water around us & with the technology already in place to desalination sea water into drinking water why are they not doing that, this would also lower sea levels

The water companies have been selling off reservoir for the last 10 years.
I know that because I have been interested in buying one, Pugh and co auction site has sold many all different sizes. Nic

Spot on ! Constantly taking up land with houses, build bigger reservoirs !! Like everyone I pay my water rates, I then love my garden and spend alot of money on it, will they compensate me for dead plants ? No,don’t think so !!

Day 5 of no running water in Challock Kent 20/07/22. SEW providing rations of 6 x 2 litres drinking water. A tanker puts water in around midday, but its empty in 1-2hrs.
Not enough water to wash ourselves, cloths, utensils.
No water to flush the toilet.

And find ways to store the water where it won’t evaporate straight away. Maybe we need to return to deep well use

Deep wells only work if the aquifers are refilled – with the low rainfall and the amount of extraction that happens in the UK that isn’t happening

And find ways to store the water where it won’t evaporate straight away. Maybe we need to return to deep well use?

Which verse specifically mentions Kent? We all know that Kent’s full of sinners. That’s why I moved to Devon. No hosepipe ban here yet Q.E.D.

fOR YOUR INTEREST AS WELL AS OTHERS.Use washing up water to flush the loo…pour it into your tank if a low one as a flush does better work than just a bowl of water. Or at least keep it in a bucket for your plants in pots if you have them. Have you ever thought to milk carton bottle catch all that cold water that is wasted coming down the pipe while you wait for the hot to arrive. (I find that it is generally at least 1/2 gallon at the kitchen sink more in the shower) keep it for your water filter/kettle) Do NOT run the tap consistently when brushing teeth, washing hands a la covid!!! There are many more tips like this but many people just cannot be ar**d.

In Hong Kong they put seawater in the water tanks when I was there but a seperate tap for drinking, cleaning teeth etc. It wasn’t too much trouble. I had salt water showers and was very clean. You might need to oil your skin a little. This went on for about five months.

There are no hose pipe bans in Derby but 7Trent have asked people to stop using hose pipes and save water for drinking only but everywhere I look people are filling plastic pools up! We will all suffer!

On our council allotments the council are saying that the National Allotment Society are saying that hosepipes are to be banned completely, and we are to use watering cans, this is fine if you have a shed or greenhouse on the site to catch rain water but even these are not allowed on site so what is our action needed on this as they say they are turning the mains off.

When did the utilities last build a reservoir. They just rely on ,it will rain in a bit, but weather is changing I guess so they need to get their act together to conserbe water which just runs away for fun.

And find ways to store the water where it won’t evaporate straight away. Maybe we need to return to deep well use

Exactly…when they made the brilliant decision to privatize the water company, the newly private, now profit conscious water companies, almost immediately decided to raise the shareholder’s dividends by flogging off 15 reservoirs. This had an immediate impact in several key areas, one was obviously a customer supply issue, less reservoirs unsurprisingly meant less water capacity, two was increased flooding when it rained heavily, as rather than going into these previously much needed, but now gone water sinks / reservoirs, it went into the rivers, many of which couldn’t cope and burst their banks, flooding towns and villages…another side effect was where the land was sold to property developers, many used the land to build houses and so on, which of course, were in the areas where water run off would naturally gravitate towards…and yep, caused more flooding. So, the upshot is, if these greedy water companies had not sold off our reservoirs to entice new investors and shareholders, there would have been significantly less flooding around the country, significantly more water capacity and significantly less people who are unable to run their taps or indeed browbeaten and made to feel guilty (despite the high cost we are paying these vultures) to use their hosepipes and so on…so people shouldn’t fall for the old faithful mantra of ‘climate change’, instead, see the wood for the trees and blame the real culprits…the greedy and incredibly short-sighted water companies who’ve caused the majority of these problems.

Thanks for the information, I didn’t know reservoirs were sold off. I cannot believe the stupidity of the government to allow it. When the population of world is increasing daily and all they do is bleat about global warming. Outrageous!

Utility companies, take note. The public are on to you and your appalling water wastage. Get a grip, you certainly charge enough!
Close to 25% leakage down to you.

Well said: Along with the backing of, The profit from the people party: They keep their monopoly and do what they like with the waste we send them for processing.

My question is: Since when and by what authority; Do Plc’s get to fine its customers, for buying too much of their product?

No ban in Dorset so because I am disabled and unable to carry a watering can I will continue using my house to fill my pond up when levels are too low and water my plants and trees due to the fact I spent money and don’t want them dying. My pond fish need water to survive and I have nowhere for a water butt, plus no rain to fill a water butt anyway, I think I need to do a major water change before any ban comes in for the little bit of way overpriced water I use daily, I don’t bath everyday or shower, I strip wash and wash my hair twice a week so to the water companies stop being greedy selling off our reservoirs and filling your pockets, I’m actually thinking of using these third world water companies as for a few pounds a month they can supply fresh water to villages that don’t have any, I save water by not drinking it by drinking alcohol, what more can I do !!!

I agree, they should have constructed one or two more reservoirs in the UK, instead of wasting public money on HS2. Typical government thinking!

This country’s an absolute joke! How can we have a hosepipe ban after all the rain we had this year?!! Does anyone remember what it was like in February when we got all the floods? Where does all that rain go then?

Do you know how the weather system works in regards to evaporation and condensing? Because it sounds like you don’t.

I do – however I’m struggling with understanding how my Condensing Tumble Dryer works, could you help? You sound like a super expert on most things.

Water companies always asking customers to conserve water whilst they do nothing about leaking water pipes for WEEKS
Their management have no problem triggering loads of cash rather than building more water storage

If a lot of these things are true about water companies then obviously new legislation need to be brought in. I will probably be cancelled by the moderator again as they will be touchy about this but free speech has to take place somewhere.

Can I use the horsepipe to wash my car in hainault ilford as my car is dirty and I have seen other people use it

I need a ASAP AS EWER

thanks
For your soupprt

I get charged 28.56 a year for the water company to dispose of rainwater from the house roof .I now catch that myself and water my garden .you can ask for a refund apparently on e day I will be off grid hopefully.

why is there no law for us to get a proper service from utility companies, to protect our rights as consumers. i live in a small parish in the north west we have a reservoir which was donated by its former owner to the local parishes. when the local water authorities were set up they took the reservoir under their control, it was then sold off as the authority was privatised. the private company now sells our water to Manchester some 130 miles away and imposes bans on us when it has given it all away.
I could write what i really think about united utilities but unfortunately the use of such obscenity on the internet is banned. Did i mention i have served my country in the armed forces and have to sit back and watch money grabbing arseholes run it into the ground.
if you the reader follows the markets could you suggest how much profit the water companies have made over the last 20 years and then suggest why there have been only 2 reservoirs built, whilst the population has gone from 57 million to 61 million.
These companies need to be mad accountable, I read with interest the statement above that water meters will bring down water usage, it also means a future where we could be billed £1 (ish) a litre – the argument being that that is the average price for a bottle of water. George Orwells 1984 watch this space we will end up paying to breath air next.

The law for splashing more on water utilities won’t help. It can make them go bankrupt. The planet is dying. The fire in Europe is eating the forests. More Innovations and better sustainability practices are the only way to protect the planet for future generations. Wars wont help. If you survive them, they leave behind pollutions and distractions which will make the planet die faster. I suggest we think more about the world we will leave for our children and grand children and act accordingly.

Look Larry, where are they building these reservoirs? 80% of the land in the UK is used for animal agriculture. Enjoy a nice steak do you? How about a bucket of KFC? All the runoff from all these 100s of millions of animals & the pesticides on the crops to feed them has to go somewhere so it’s not a case of just building a reservoir. There’s nowhere to build them & when they try to build one 70 miles away the residents in that area petition against it because why should they have one built that isn’t going to be serving them?

Enjoy a nice barbecue do you? With all your meat products? If so you’re part of the problem of why it’s 40C today.

To be fair a lot of reservoirs these days are underground with a fairly small collection point above ground. The underground nature means the Land above can be used fir grazing snd certain crops. We do need more underground reservoir. I accept that run offs washing pesticides into rivers and other water systems is a problem and sadly occurs more commonly where there are large grain or veg crops. It’s a hard one to solve and make the crop economic though some other methods like companion planting are being trialed- even organic farming has its challenges as some of the organic manures and composts are still
Pollutants to the water system. It’s a knotty solution – but it is good we are all talking about it and discussing solutions- nice if we can do that without getting too heated though

Sure but some of us have to eat meat and those of you that don’t will have serious health conditions. Everything in moderation.

Hi,

Is there any updates on this? Is the hosepipe ban still in place or has it been lifted yet? A I have seen people now using hosepipes. Assuming it has been lifted. I currently live in Andover, Hampshire.

if the water situation in the south-southeast is so bad then why are we letting thousands of people come here for the olympic games if its as bad as they would have us believe then cancel the games

Wettest “drought” in living memory, yet still hose ban persists, and now the arrogant supplier can’t even be bothered to update this correspondence trail since two weeks ago and keep its customers appraised. I say time to end the monopoly and lobby MPs for a choice of supplier, as we enjoy for gas and electricity. These companies are too busy lining their pockets to care about customers. Let’s introduce some competition.

Hi i have a patio which my dog messes on, and have 5 young grandchildren i use to wash it down each day with jet wash and jeyes fluid can i not do this once a week now, or do i have to get rid of the dog, ground is still so bogey in Hampshire.

When will this ban end ? – as with other water companies. It costs a fortune to keep paying to have car cleaned! This morning it is covered in rain marks but they ate brown from dust. My car is black – it looks dreadful. Surely there has been enough rainfall now

An ongoing ban in certain areas is evidence of total incompetence on the part of those companies.

If they are not able to ‘tank’ the amount of recent rainfall, then they have not been doing their jobs properly and have inadequate measures in place to store water / or have become (in certain areas) too reliant on aquifers.

Either way, i would feel very embarrassed if i were running one of these companies. The words professional incompetence spring to mind.

Neil,

Is this condemnation based on any hydrological or hydrogeological knowledge or just the way you feel things out to work in nature? ‘Tanking’ rainfall as you put it sounds so easy. An over reliance on aquifers…again who would be so stupid?

Well, if you live in an area of predominantly chalk soils (much of the south) for example, you’ll find few rivers, as chalk is a very permeable surface…so aquifers are pretty much all you’ve got and work incredibly well most years. Building a reservoir on chalk is also not a simple task as, guess what, the water seeps into the ground! And the point of aquifers is that they recharge best with continued low rates of rainfall recharge (too much rain and the water won’t infiltrate into the ground or percolate through the ground as fast as it’s falling and so it runs off, often causing a degree of natural flooding – these are normal processes).

So depending on where you live, your water will be supplied by the most appropriate means and unless you want your water bill to go up ridiculously, you won’t be clamouring for desalination plants, enormous artificial reservoirs and the like, and I’d suggest we all accept an occasional hose-pipe ban when there isn’t enough rain for a prolonged period.

I agree that our bills should be reduced in line with the reduced costs (assuming there are some) of supplying less water during a hose-pipe ban, but as more houses get put on a meter, this will happen automatically anyway.

Hope this helps.

Phil, i don’t think the end user needs to be a hydrological expert to see the current ban is ludicrous and evidence of poor prior planning or bad management.

The geographical constraints you mention in the south should have been taken into consideration Phil – would it have been too hard to pipe water from one area of the country to the south and to have arrangements in place with different companies – no… but yes i expect given the way the industry is structured perhaps making this complicated and/or expensive ?? Again, poor management and bad planning and in my opinion the buck stops there.

Could i fill a bucket up and then run a pressure washer off the water in the bucket?

The pressure uses far less water than filling up 5 or 6 buckets of water to throw over a car to rinse the soap off!

If you grow your own vegetables on your own land for your own consumption can you use a hose pipe to water them? Seems a little unfair if not, especially as commercial growers are, I understand, currently exempt.

Ken, I agree with you. We also have a hosepipe ban but two miles away there isn’t one. So it can only be that a blanket ban is much easier to administer, whether it is required or not.

I am convinced that South East water are playing politics not practicalities. I am confident that once we all have water meters installed, the problem of water shortages will miraculously disappear. Unmetered water is the biggest cause of grief and hand-wringing to water companies and their shareholders.

As they are commercial companies, not government departments, it all comes down to moiney and politics, as usual. We are not customers, we are hostages.

I notice that whilst they are keen for us to save their water, they don’t mind us spending our money on their premium rate “hostage-services” telephone numbers. Another sign that money is their primary driver, not customers.

It may have been answered already but why is a hosepipe ban linked to the supplier and not the region? I am supplied water by Southern Water and less than a mile away my parents by Portsmouth Water. I have a hosepipe ban, they don’t. I just don’t believe the infrastructure is completely separate and I would place good money on the suppliers “overlapping” each other.

So that said why is it not the Adur region that has a hosepipe ban? Enforced by the Environments agency.

Unlike electricity suppliers I don’t have a choice who I get my water from, and can do nothing about them making profits instead of fixing ageing infrastructure…

Neighbour has been using his hosepipe throughout the ban & today it’s been running for 7 hrs. Can I report him as I think it’s a total waste and unfair on those of us abiding by the rules, thanks.

I used to wash my car with a pressure washer before the hosepipe ban and it took about 30 litres including the water in the wash bucket. Now it takes about 50-60 litres using buckets alone – primarily due to the inefficiency of rinsing the car by pouring water over it compared with rinsing with a high pressure low volume spray.

So I am complying with the law but clearly this is detrimental to the water supply. It’s a shame that a bit more thought wasn’t put into the restrictions/conditions in order to overcome such forced inefficiencies.

Am getting Fed up of rushing round the car to make sure my 3yr old twins don’t touch the bird poo that they’ve dive bombed all over my car, my daughters don’t understand and it’s only a question of time until they touch some and then put the hands in their mouths, so tomorrow my pressure washer is coming out and the bird poo will be going, I mean for God sake they can’t ban us from a pressure washer, I mean all our washing machines are plumbed in by hoses, so with that as long as it is a machine of some kind, then we should be sorted. Well I hope so anyway 🙂

I’ve seen your posts saying pressurewhashers are banned……… but I’m curious as to whether all Pressurewashers for non-comercial use are banned in a waterban?

Even those that can now be used with water from a water butt ie the new style Karchers that have been advertised on the television for the last few months???

Also where do people stand with being able start re-using their supply and not being prosecuted when their local waterboard lifts the ban, but their local council does not?

as a trades man i need to use a pressure washer to carry out my works which attaches to an outdoor tap does the ban effect me?

Hi, sorry if this or similar has already been asked.

Heres my sittuation I keep Marine fish and I have two water butts that I fill with water one being fresh water the other salt water though a Reverse Osmosis System.

There is no hose pipe involved but the pipping to the system is feed from a 5mm pipe from the mains supply
I have to have fresh water for top ups and salt water for water changes or I could risk losing my fish.

The waste water from the system isn’t going down the drain either thats going into a pond and keeping the water topup on that.

Is this ok to continue under the ban?

Cheers

Ian

What are the legal issues with business’s seeing as to maintain a level of service as a chauffeur and for hygiene and conforming to insurance regulations, i am required to near sterilise the inside of a horse box, where a pressure washer (proven to use less water then a hose pipe (1/5th of the water out of the same tap) ) to clean it efficiently.

So i saw the council leaving a sprinkler running ALL day and where not allowed to water our gardens, What the heck?

I am a cheese manufacturer and we use a hose pipe to wash the milk off the warehouse floor at the end of the day, is that ok? we are in hainault, ilford.

Hi, We are a buisness and have spent £300.00 on flowers for our Petrol Forecourt, as a business can we use a hose pipe to water them?

Im a commercial gardener, but I work on domestic property’s, I have recently installed lawns, overseeded areas, and installed beds, does this mean I can utilise the hoses on their gardens? As of I can’t I can lose revenue from having to refuse work, and incur compensation claims against me for loss of plants and lawns through lack of water, are south east water prepared to compensate me for my losses? I pay my rates.my customers pay their rates, yet pipes are always leaking and the costs are always going up, how am
I to pay when I’m losing money through the faults of my suppliers! You can blame mother nature all you like, but if the correct infrastructure was in place, we wouldn’t be where we all are now, please get back to me as my bank balance is looking scarier by the minute!!

Hi
Is it allowed for Horse Polo Clubs to water their pitches with “pumps” for hours on end (like the farmers use in their fields)? Why are they allowed to water grass pitches, is it because of the danger to polo horses breaking their legs? They were at it again this morning! If so, can I hose my dogs down? They are becoming a health hazard with the smell! Freda

Everyone in our area is still using hosepipes, within the South East region.
General opinion is we pay our bills, we don’t get a reduction during a ban.
As far as I am concern, until they actually write to their customers in person, which they have not don’t yet, I don’t formally know about it!.
Oh and thanks for fixing the leak last year, which left water running down the road, yes only took 3 weeks to even come and have a look. Oh and thanks for all the mud and stones that blocked up my taps when you did finally get round to it.
Off to water my flowers, happy days….

The builders on the building estate near West Ruislip station (London Borough of Hillingdon) are using a sprinkler on the lawn area outside the houses they’re finishing off. It’s just to prettify the area to sell the houses – but does it count as ‘commercial gardening’ and is it therefore exempt from the ban?
(I’ve no idea which water area they’re in!)

I also need a knee replacement and its a long way from the outside tap to the rest of garden, but nearer from a water buut……………..

Can l fill water butts up wiith hosepipe and water garden from butt with watering cans – l have a large garden ?

NOW THAT THE RAINFALL HAS BEEN MORE THAN ADEQUATE, WHEN CAN WE EXPECT THE HOSE PIPE BAN TO BE LIFTED.
WE NEED TO CLEAN OUR CARS AND PATIO AND WATERING OF NEW PLANTS IS ESSENTIAL.
HOPE THAT THE BAN IS LIFTED AT ITS EARLIEST

Hose, no need to answer… further reading explained but it still doesn’t say about private companies.. Does this mean the government has a hand in all these water companies by being able to pass an act in Parliment to make it law?

The original laws pre-date privatised water companies. Government now allows them to act on these (updated) laws within strict guidelines.

Hose, Please can you answer Joe’s question of Can you tell me what LAW people are breaking that is resulting in fines from a private corporation¦? for all to see and perhaps challenge.

Section 76 of the 1991 Water Industry Act.
The Water Use (Temporary Bans) Order 2010

This was Emma’s question. Joe answered it and I added to the answer as she seemed to find it unclear.

The links can be found above in our original answers.

Based on advice read in this site, I rang Thames Water to check whether I could use a hosepipe to clean out my chicken coops. They had previously said no. Yesterday they said yes and gave me a reference number to quote in case my nosy neighbours report me.

Thanks for helpful advice.

I agree your using just as much water filling a pool up with a bucket using a hose makes no diffrence

So you can fill up a pool with buckets but not a hose…. How the hell does that save water? I’d say it uses the same!

We just put down some grass seed in our garden which only started to grow a few weeks ago, we spent about a hundred pounds on seeds, it is going to die if we can’t water it, and it us too big area to use a can, can we use the hose pipe?

yo! my partys coming up soon and i wat to use a 10ft pool and want to fill it up in the morning on sunday 10th june, would it be okay?

I want to fill my pool up if I can’t use the hose what can I fill it up with and I saw the council washing there car with a hose.

People in hathern loughborough are using their pipes to fill up the paddle pools for the kids and posting the image on facebook.is this allowed?

“I asked for a LAW not an ACT…”

There’s no need to shout my dear. The following link explains the relationship between the two: http://www.parliament.uk/about/how/laws/acts/

But if you don’t want to read it all, I’ll quote the first line for you:
“An Act of Parliament creates a new law or changes an existing law”

I’m happy to help, as always.

Hi
I am greenkeeper at Potton Bowls Club Beds.
I want to sow some grass seed and have to keep it moist to make it grow.
Also I am having a County Bowls match being played on the green am I allowed to apply water before this match is played.

Hello

Please could someone confirm if using a handheld steam cleaner to clean a caravan is allowed. The steam cleaner holds about a cup full of water (250-300ml) and lasts to do about one side, so for less than a litre of water I can steam clean my whole caravan, due to the pump in the cleaner this is required to be clean (tap) water to prevent damage to it. I have done this today, but would like to know where I stand if our neighbours challenge us on it (which they are very likely to do, they cause trouble about anything just for the hell of it).

I then used bath water to rinse it afterwards which I understand is perfectly legal in a hosepipe ban situation. I did not use a hosepipe at all for any of the process.

Is what I have done allowed?

I live in the Thames water area and we emptied our hot tub last year for the winter, can we refill it with a hosepipe or do we have to use buckets?

Can you tell me what LAW people are breaking that is resulting in fines from a private corporation…?

Also with the recent sun, is Manchester due a hosepipe ban?

I really do not like how this is turning our neighbourhoods into a snitch society & with no photographic proof needed. Whatever happened to innocent until proven guilty?

This system is open to abuse & needs to be reviewed.

Thanks.

“Can you tell me what LAW people are breaking that is resulting in fines from a private corporation¦?”

Section 76 of the 1991 Water Industry Act.
The Water Use (Temporary Bans) Order 2010

So who do I report it to if I know some-one has filled a massive empty pool from their hose pipe. They have even posted a photo of themselves doing it on facebook! They live in Portsmouth which is I believe Southern water and the ban is still in force.

sad very sad, people should not be penalised for using water that they pay for. The companys should be penalised for the water they waste through leaks etc. There are many around. I will still be filling the pool just with a bucket not a hosepipe and also have someone photograph me whilst doing it as proof.

So leave the public alone and complain about the water companies, if you were to report you are no better thn them!

I don’t understand why a jetwash is banned, it uses less water to clean a car than a bucket. I have just got my car back that has been in a garage for two years and needs to be deep cleaned in the engine bay and arches with high pressure. Can I do this?

Hi i am registered disabled as i have MS with balance issues & left sided weakness, but i do not hold a blue badge, would i be allowed to use a hose sensibly maybe with a gun that only sprays when you push the trigger to save waste ?
kind regards
T

Please speak to your local water company about this as they should give you an exemption.

So there is a hose pipe ban fair enough but yet I have seen I number of water leaks on the roads and yet they are left for ages before being fixed! So it’s alright for water companies to waste water in that way but we can’t use a hose pipe! Another thing when the rivers where up due to heavy rain how come the water companies didn’t pump from the rivers? A blue badge person can use a hose pipe even though most off them can still walk and do their everyday shopping so I’m sure these people should use a watering can as well! And pregnant women can’t use a hose pipe because?? Who ever thought of these crap rules needs to be sacked! I washed my car today using a bucket and I must have waster an easy 100 litres and I’m sure if I had used my jet wash that uses 50% less water I could have saved on water! Water companies are a joke and need to pull their fingers out and do more to stop water leaks and repair then as soon as they start! They should also do more to keep the water levels topped up! Rant over!

I have seen this question asked on here before, yes you can as it is an animal welfare issue so you are allowed to fill up a fish pond if necessary.

Why is it we are not allowed to clean our cars with a hosepipe, yet we are allowed to use buckets of water which results in more water being wasted. Every time i have cleaned my car in the past i haven’t stood there leaving the hosepipe running when it’s not in use. Or dare i assume the water companies have actually done extensive research into this???

Drains on my patio recently got blocked and while fixing this they over flooded on the patio.
I feel I need to jet wash using disinfectant as sewege was involved.
Am I allowed to do this? I live in London, Harlesden, NW10.

Whilst I can see how this hosepipe ban is an attempt to encourage people to save water in a time that water levels are supposedly low in our area (the river witham looks pretty full at the minute to me) I can’t see how its going to make much of a difference and would appreciate it if someone could explain to me the thoughts behind how the ban will be effective. It seems that current legislation allows me to wash my car, fill my water butt or even build a moat if I like and that’s fine so long as I do it with a watering can…but I’m filling the watering can from the same tap that the hose would normally connect to! Upto 1000 litres an hour from a hosepipe I read somewhere, hosepipe or not the water comes out the tap just as quick so if you’re soft enough to leave it running in-between watering can fill ups then you’ve saved no water and have probably created a new feature in your garden. I have a spray gun on the end of my hose so that I don’t have to keep it running whilst washing the car as I don’t like wasting water. I’m using just as much water by filling the can and pouring it on my car and garden but it’s just taking me longer. The ban is proving to be more of an inconvenience that an effective water saving measure and my heart goes out to poor old Doris round the corner whos too proud to get a blue badge but has now broken her 12th vertebrae and dislocated her shoulder lifting those heavy watering cans. Of course I jest and Doris isn’t real but she could be, stoic as Lincolnshire folk generally are. Surely it’s time for a rethink on how we can save water rather than enforcing this ill thought out and dated measure. Shouldn’t we be looking to penalise the irresponsible hose users rather than everyone? We don’t ban keeping dogs just cause one or two idiots don’t pick up the poo do we? Any thoughts?

i have a small paddling pool am i allowed to fill it up with the hosepipe?
i am Portsmouth Water do they have a ban?
thanks

Please note it’s now clear all water companies are allowing the filling of pools with buckets filled from the tap. Not from a hosepipe though.

Finally get some good weather but can’t enjoy the pool because of:

A: The water companies are great at making themselves money?

B: The water companies are incapable of repairing the useless water pipes?

C: The water companies are incapable of spending money on better ways to save rainwater (even though they know this is possible just requires money)?

D: All of the above?

How come my water charges remain the same and yet my water supply has been greatly reduced, I appreciate we have had less rain but I know more can be done to prevent people enjoying what very little time they have away from work!

And yes as you may have guest I am a little peeved that I can’t enjoy the weather in my pool!

You referred me to the update about paddling pools which states nothing about using bath water, so can I use bath water to fill it up or is this not allowed. I know the area I live in does not allow you to fill or top it up using water from a normal tap and using a bucket but I cannot find out anywhere about using bath water.

First of all you can use bath water to fill it up. Secondly, all water companies are now allowing the filling of pools with buckets filled from the tap.

I am a blue badge holder and cannot carry buckets water to water my garden plants as my hands are not strong enough. Can I use hosepipe?

Where can i report my basement flat neighbour for ignoring hosepipe ban in Wandsworth?

My neighbour is waking me up as he is using his hosepipe to water his grass at 11.30pm… And he dares complaining I don’t maintain my garden properly!

I checked on Thames Water website before filling a small 3 bucket pool for toddler.it states no filling of pools except when by the use of a handheld container. Ie watering can. So that means you can fill paddle pools this way. I know the website has changed as earlier in year it didnt make this exception. But you have said we cant do this ?

I have some rugs at the entrance to my business premises that I usually take home and jet wash every few months (I am a dog groomer, so they get quite grubby). Can I still do this?

If you were doing it at your business premises, no problem but difficult to say at home. Best to ask your local water company.

So , my partner is a blue badge holder, does this mean we can use a hose for the garden and to wash the car?

Hi, my patio needs jet washing as it has become very slippery and my wife is pregnant. Can I use a jet wash too clean this?

Thanks

You have said that you can use bath water however you like, does this mean I can use it to fill up a paddling pool? If so, how is this controlled because south east/southern water are using a helicopter to fly over people’s garden in order to catch them out and fine them £500, so if you were allowed to use bath water how would you prove to them that this was the case?

There is an earlier comment concerning being allowed to use a hose if you are a holder of a disabled persons Blue Badge, does this apply to all arerasb under the ban or just certain water companies

Is ignorance a defence?
I come under Thames Water and today is the first I ever heard of a ban and that was only by accidently overhearing a lady moaning about her garden in this weather whilst buying a bottle of water at waitrose.
There certainly hasn’t been any notification that I have seen or heard on TV, radio or papers.

hi hose i live in chertsey surrey is the hosepipe ban still in place. i am pregnant so would i be allowed to use my hosepipe cause im not supposed to lift heavy things. Thanks,

All hosepipe bans are still in place and no exemptions have been given to pregnant women.

You can clean dogs with a hosepipe but would need to ask your local water company about using a paddling pool to bath them as filling a paddling pool is generally not allowed.

Hi, I heard that in some areas the ban had been lifted, is that true? And if so is Hertfordshire one of them? Thanks.

Hi there,
I have been using my hose because i’m hot and i need to call down. I live in London and i am under Thames Water, are you going to shoot me or will i be ok???

I have just had new turf laid last week. My sister told me that I am allowed to water the grass from a mains usiing a sprinkler. Is this true. I don’t want it to die

If it was laid by professionals you are allowed to water it with hosepipes/sprinklers for 28 days from the date it was laid. After that it’s watering can or irrigation systems.

So what you effectively saying is if you are affluent enough to pay professionals to lay your lawn, you can water it, but if you can not afford to pay to have it laid, you cannot water it. Does that about sum it up.

Is there any hope of lifting the Thames water hosepipe ban this year? What’s the current water situation? Thanks

It’s looking like they’ll keep it for at least the summer but earlier predictions mentioned all year. Difficult to tell.

No one in an area that has a hosepipe ban is allowed to fill or top up pools in any way.

I live in Surrey and I have heard that if you have a disabled car driver’s Blue Badge you are allowed to use a hose to water your garden. Is this correct ?

Hi please help I live in Wisbech Cambs I know there is a hosepipe ban here but I have a dog who does his bussiness on my patio can I use a jet wash to clean it as I have two little children.

I noted that in response to a previous question regarding the filling of Hot Tubs during this hosepipe ban you replied that this was not allowed.

Our earlier answers were based on rules at the time. It’s now allowed to fill and top up hot tubs.

Hi

Can you tell me please if I can still use my hosepipe at my allotment site to water my veg. etc? not sure if allotments are exempt from bans?
I am in paignton , devon.

Thanks

Allotments are not exempt from hosepipe bans this year. You don’t have a ban in place in Paignton though.

My neighbour opposite waters his front garden most days with a hosepipe in broad daylight! I told him he shouldnt be and he laughed! Do u need photographic proof to report someone?
Thanks

You don’t need photographic evidence. Simply report them to your local water company if you want to.

Just moved to Evesham and I think I come under Severn Trent (not sure). Is there a ban here?

Hello,

Just to confirm that I an use a pressure washer running from a waterbutt not connected to a mains water supply?

Thank you

As long as the water in it didn’t come from mains water originally. For instance, rainwater or recycled house water is OK.

Hello,

Thank you for the response, so I could run a bath without any added bubble-bath etc, have my bath then fill my water-butt from that?

Thank you

just to clarify hose, if i use water from the bath for my garden by siphoning, i will not be fined, as i have a do-gooder next door who would be straight on the phone, i will print off your reply and show it to them. cheers, oxo

Ive filled up my water butt and my recycling bin with water from my hose and now am using this to water my lovely garden with a watering can as i live in a first floor maisonette and to run up and down stairs with a can would finish me off and am not prepared to let my plants die as they have cost me a fortune in money and blood sweat and tears over the last three years i dont see a problem doing it this way…any thoughts on this???

Hi All

I just find the whole thing ridiculous..

The garden must be left to perish but you are allowed to fill up a hot tub?!

And the fact that it has rained constantly for over a month means nothing as it’s “The wrong sort of rain”

I was unaware that there was a “Right sort of rain”. Surely rain is rain?

You can throw buckets of water onto a car to wash it which is a huge waste, but you are not allowed to use water saving efficient hose triggers?

Are these policies going to be reviewed in the hear future at all?

I find the whole things very confusing.

Emma

I find the whole thing laughable.

Hi Hose, I see that you’ve told a number of people that they can clean their decking with power washers if not doing so could cause an accident.

Would they (I) need permission before doing so or would they just need to explain to whatever officer were to visit following a complaint?

Many thanks

You’re quite right that no ‘up front’ permission is needed and therefore anyone doing this should have an explanation ready should they need it.

Is it me or is this just too confusing, why do we not just have a simple map showing where is banned and not? or am I living in a different easy answer world

Check out your local water company’s website. Most have a postcode checking facility available.

Well, my fish are well suffocating without a little top up, true the watering can can support but what a fiasco when all the crappy water company’s are just letting the water leaks drip drip de drip…………….this is a neanderthal country with no desire to save – if this was Africa, would be lynched…………and all that dosh they getting for delegating the water (God provided!!) Water is as important as Heat, Light, Food and Air, without which we would all demise…………….Amen xx

You’re perfectly entitled to top up a pond containing animals with a hosepipe as it’s an animal welfare issue. In fact the irony is that it’s your legal duty to protect animals in your care.

I would just like to show my appreciation to Shaun for the laugh I have just had reading the comments. I never thought that reading comments about a hosepipe ban could be so entertaining. Many thanks. PS. Is you can White?

i think this site would’ve been 1/2 the size if it wasnt for shaun!
very entertaining & made me laugh out loud.
i think he should stick to facebook or twitter with the other ” knobs ! ” (quote/unquote)
🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂
p.s. thankyou hose for a very informative site ( i’ve learnt everything i need to know)

hahahahahaha thanks ALAN all the comments made me LOL 2 even ure comment 😀 u obv havent got nothing better 2 do than troll have u? didnt think so 😀

i am on FACEBOOK thanks FYI & ure obv on FACEBOOK 2 cause ure clearly a so called door appliance =D

My dad lives with us and has a Blud Badge under the disability scheme – are we therefore allowed to use the hosepipe duing the ban if needed?
thanks

Not unless it’s for health and safety reasons, for instance if they had become slippery with moss.

I’ve been corresponding with DEFRA about why you are allowed to use a hose to put bath water on the garden. I know it may sound obvious, but I wondered what happened to the water when you had a bath in it which meant that it was no longer subject to the restrictions on using a hose. DEFRA confirmed that you could pump water out of a bath through a hose and use it on the garden. They said that this was because the water was no longer as supplied by the water undertaker.

It seems to me that anyone who has a water softener can use a hose to water his garden with softened water because it is no longer the water supplied by the undertaker but is a different substance.

Shaun

What part of “you cannot use a hose to wash your vans, you will have to use a bucket with water or watering can” don’t you understand?

hi shaun u need to look under ur first post numnuts hose said company vans and cars can be washed with A hose or jet wash learn to read

i understand alot but which part of “do you own this site” do U not understand?? cause u clearly dont understand all 5 words & 14 letters of that text 😀

Jim, I think Shaun would do well to simply thank Hose – after all, “it’s not difficult”! Aggressive hosepipe questioning!? Really useful forum (bar Shaun) I’m off to jet wash the patio: slippery, plus fox faeces seems to qualify for exemption. Thanks, Hose.

Hose nvr even gave me an answer so no thanks is available 😀

yh bar me all u like cause im clearly not fussed

lmfao!! wanna call me a nob 2 my face JIM? my dirty vans are fully advertised & if u get ure facts right u will also want a clean vehicle 4 business? obv ure Mrs aint all that clean if shes full of dirt 😀 so HUSH

Shaun – had you asked a straightforward question e.g. “am I allowed to use a hosepipe to clean company vehicles?” instead of a rant you may have managed to understand the answer. This forum is not for childishness, aggression & playground threats. Good luck with your business (has to be a charm school?) – your clients are in for a treat.

in my place of business we have a JET WASH which is a hose, & a WALL HOSE, as u pillock maybe aware there is a ban so it has stop the company in use of them appliances….

i nvr ranted either? so get ure facts right lol, hahaha i wasnt being “childish, agressive or playground threatening??” so ure point there has sadly failed 🙁

hahaha what clients?? ure asuming something but sadly uve asumed wrong LOL nvr asume anything doesnt get u anywhere

Hi Hose, you’re doing a great job on here!!!
Quick Q’s please.
1. Is there a hosepipe ban in Blackpool? (I’m thinking no)
2. If yes, can I still use hose with trigger/spray to clean my taxi?
Many thanks.

Well I will be still using my hose as normal washing my car ect as ti be fair it is a load of political bullshit to be fair.

well i hope you get a fine…and if we all continued using our hoses then u included would be standing with a bucket at a stand pipe waiting for water…that is the reason you fool!!!

Is the Hose Pipe Ban lifted for the North West? Or is it still in place? There is no information anywhere, just the south.

There’s not been a hosepipe ban in 2012 in the north west of England, only in the east and south east.

Hi. Can i use the pressure washer to clean my patio where my dogs go to the toilet. I need this to be cleaned & safe for children to pass through. Also the surface area is slippery and unsafe so will need to be cleaned properly. This is a 10 min job tops with a pressure washer.

If it’s going to be unsafe if you didn’t clean it, for instance if it’s slippery under foot.

What if someone needed to use a water sprinkler and cant use a hose like my garden its all dried up and needs to be watered up

Hi, I have a small decked area in my garden which is so slippery it is like ice. To jet wash it it would take about 20 mins and would make the surface safe to walk on. Is this ok to do? Many thanks

hi, i am extending a border for a client involving putting shrubs and misc plants, the border is 70mts from tap, can i use hose to fill watering cans?

i got small patio at front and back of house.i never had chans to clean them in march by jet whash. when its raining i tried to clean whith bucket but they still looks green and dirty.in this situation can ues jet whash to clean patio.

heyy i work for a retail company, and i would like 2 know, as this hose-pipe ban rubbish how do we wash the company vehicle? the company will not pay for us 2 use a car wash but they require the vehicle to be 2 cleaned….

any ideas how we can do this WITHOUT a use of a hosepipe?

yes with a hose!! like i said my company wont pay 4 us 2 use like a bucket & sponge & they certainly WILL NOT pay 2 use a car wash so explain in detail how 2 clean company vehicles as i asked u b4…. not a difficult question

He DID answer your question, it wasn’t a difficult question, and it wasn’t a difficult answer!

Those white vans really show the dirt though, don’t they!

errr excuse me?? who said u can answer my question with some attitude?

how do u know my vehicles are WHITE? they can be GREEN or BLUE!?, get this right, my company doesnt spend money on us 2 run up & dwn stairs 2 muck about with water! no reason why we cant use a hose

so in future type when ure typed 2 & hush it got it gd

Hi. can i use my jet wash to was my car even though the hose is attached? it uses less water than just a hose. if not, what options do i have as to washing my car? or do i just have to park next to my bathroom window an hang out with the shower head. many thanks 🙂

Is there still a hosepipe ban?! Theres no way there should be. Its been raining non stop for the past two weeks!!!

Why can’t the water companies temporarily divert the flooded rivers to reservoirs and not
Waste this precious resource by letting it go into the sea.

Can we have an update on the water reserve as it has been raining nearly constantly since the ban was introduce.

Jack,

It’s the wrong sort of rain I’m afraid, so the hosepipe restrictions need to remain in place for the foreseeable future.

Hi there,
Can i use a hosepipe with a trigger to wet my car then rinse off the soap suds after washing with a bucket. This is using no more water than throwing a bucket of water over the car to do the same job?

It’s madness as the measure for car washing is an open ended hose (No hand trigger) running for 30 min at average mains pressure. It’s been proven to be more water efficient to use a hose with spray gun, than bucket washes.

What I am doing Paul is using a large watering can to wet the car down and again to rinse off after using the shampoo. This gives much more control than lobbing water bombs at the car for rinsing especially.

Maybe all this rain will alleviate the position by Winter…. 😉

I have 5 horses, am i alloud to bath them. We do not have a water supply at our yard, can we bring them home and use the hosepipe to clean them as they get very muddy a scurffy.

Friday 20.04.2012

Hello Hose

As I am disabled, but not a blue badge holder as I don’t drive am I allowed to use
a hosepipe for my small allotment plot and there are other people, both 68, one
has arthritis as I do are they allowed to use a hosepipe too?

You wouldn’t get an automatic exemption without a blue badge and not all water companies give you an exemption automatically anyway – some you have to apply to.

Without a blue badge or being registered disabled you probably can’t get an exemption, but please contact your local water company to confirm.

Hi,

Is it true that you can water your garden with mains water if:

1. You use a drip or trickle system
2. You use a pressure reducer
3. You use a timer

Mank Thanks,

Jerry

Yes but you need to check for your individual water company and make sure they have no other restrictions on top.

We have abowls green that is used for surrey competitions are we allowed to use the spinkler system we have inplace allready.

This generally isn’t allowed, though you should contact your local water company to see if any local exemptions exist. Unlikely I’m afraid.

The The Water Use (Temporary Bans) Order 2010, excludes at section 4(3)(e) the watering of plants which are in an outdoor pot or in the ground, under cover.

this means that I can continue to use a hosepipe to water plants in my garden which are in a pot. do you agree?

Difficult piece of legislation to interpret. The section you mention is purely part of the definition of a garden and a pot is not something defined as a garden. However, section 6(1)(a) includes pots in its definition of plants that cannot be watered.

It is of course up to your local water company if they do or do not include every item in the list of possible banned uses.

If they can prove it’s a health and safety issue or animal welfare issue then they are allowed to do it.

I still continue to use a hosepipe to wash my dogs feaces off of our patio as we have small children and it could be very harmful if they were to somehow ingest anything that I failed to clean up with a bucket. I am respectful of the ban and try to only use it when absolutely necessary but my children’s health is more important to me!

I have horses in a field that has no water supply. I normally would fill up water containers that hold 20litres (I have 5). I have water butts also and would always use that water first. Am I still allowed to fill these containers with a hose?

Depends if it can be passed off as an animal welfare issue that can’t be done with buckets.

Hi
I run 2 businesses. One is window cleaning which includes cleaning conservatory roofs with a hosepipe and the other is selling preserves in the autumn which I make from some of my produce in my garden.. Can I use the hosepipe for both businesses and is it ok to use the customers hosepipes for the roofs

Hi i would like to clarify a point.

Having read through the comments and questions above, i understand that as i run a business as a gardener / landscaper, i can use a hose as part of my business.

I lay a lot of new lawns and as such this new turf needs to be watered regularly or it will simply dry up and die.

I can water it once it has been laid, but for the following few weeks i cannot visit the customer every day for example to water their lawn.

Are my customers allowed to water the new lawn until it has stablished and rooted properly?

Thanks

Hiya, we’ve recently had new turf laid and although the recent rain did it good, it is now dying. My question, can we out a fixture into out kitchen tap to then run the hose outside to water our lawn and new plants? Thanks

I know it won’t make a real difference but I have to chuckle at the irony that since the ban came into effect, we have had rain every day here in Lincs. 😀

Here’s one for anyone with a upstairs bathroom, after you have bathed yourself grab your hosepipe weight one end down in the bottom of your bath water trail the other end out of the bathroom window into the garden. Suck on the end of the hosepipe(careful not to get a mouthful) you will get a constant flow of water from your hosepipe until the bath empties. HAPPY WATERING!!!!!!!

I SEEN TO BE HAVING TROUBLE UNDERSTANDING ALL THE Q/As PLEASE CAN YOU TELL ME IF I CAN USE A PRESSURE WASHER COMING OF AN OUTSIDE TAP MANY THANKS RAY

Hi…I have collected water throughout the winter in large plastic bins and have a tap at the bottom; this was cheaper than buying a water butt. I can connect a hose to the bin tap and my jet wash has enough power to draw the water through to be effective; I have just cleaned my car that way and it works fine. However, I have just been stopped and advised that I have broken the ban. Surely I haven’t??

As long as it’s only rainwater you’ve done nothing wrong. The ban only stops the use of water from the mains.

is it still ok to use the self operated jet wash at a service station as they don’t seem to have turned them off. To clean a private car.

Hi

We seem to pay a lot of money to have drinking quality water supplied through the mains. Water used for comsumption must be a very small percentage of that used.

Would it not make sense to supply ‘clean ‘ water through the mains that is suitable for bathing, washing etc and drinking quality water be bought.?

This would allow the use of things such as desalination plants and other sources of water without the cost?

Is Hampshire under a hosepipe ban?

Its all a bit vague. Most large news sources say the whole south is included but im hearing that local news is saying hampshire isn’t.

Could you shed some light on this for me or direct me somewhere where I can find a definitive answer?

Many thanks

Lee

Hampshire is not under the hosepipe ban at the moment. Neither is Dorset or the Isle of Wight.

My garden I paved an I have two dogs… I need to hose to clean poo stains with my disinfectant.. Can I still do this? Anglian water, northants area.

Is there not a requirement for the water company to notify us of the hosepipe ban? I have received nothing informing me of a ban, yet I assume I am affected, but if I was to use a hose, and there was a fine issued, I have not actually been informed I am covered by this. Is it not required from a legal standpoint?

Seems there is a reliance that I will have watched the news and they will have shown a map that says I am covered by the ban…bit odd

The law says they need to make a public notice in two local newspapers and on their website.

Sorry this may seem like a stupid question but I have a water butt which is currently full, can I connect my hose to this and use the hose to water the garden/plants? I.e I would be using the hose to distribute water collected over the winter in the butt.

Hi There,

I am confused about whether the hose pipe ban affects me or not. I heard on the local radio that Hampshire was not included – is that correct?

Can I use a half metre length of hosepipe on my tap to fill the watering can, as otherwise it splashes all over and gets wasted? i.e. can I use a spout if it happens to be made from a short length of what was hosepipe?
I know I can’t use the long hose on its reel to fill the watering can around the garden and shorten my journey with the heavy can. I’m happy to do my bit and not use the hosepipe for the garden, I’ve already mulched and put water retaining gel to reduce water evaporation from the soil.

In the past a short length has been allowed, but please check with your local water company as it’s not totally clear.

I have ducks and chickens in my garden. The ducks (10) use 2 paddling pools to bath in… Can I fill using a hose? Can I jet wash or hose the mess produced by the birds away?

You might need to speak to your local water company about the paddling pools as they are generally banned. Getting rid of the mess can be done if it’s a health and safety issue.

Heres a good one, I see a few times making exceptions for health risks.
I have a car and the INSIDE of it is a health risk!!!

There’s lots of weird things growing in it and its very hard to dislodge!
Could an exception be made in case of health hazard?

Otherwise I will have to jetwash it INSIDE the garage straight from the tap!!!
No hosepipe that way 🙂

I really can’t believe what I’ve been reading…

‘Mr. Hose’ has really for his work cut put for him – the vast majority of these questions are stupid and either addressed in the article (if you bothered to read more than the title), or are simply common sense.

This is how it works:

> If the use of a hosepipe is integral to your business or livelyhood, you should be fine.
> If you plan on using the water for fun, such as in a pool or similar, then it’s a no go.
> If watering plants or a garden, don’t use a hose – use a tap or bucket.
> If washing a motor vehicle, again, use a bucket or watering can.
> All other uses – check with your water supplier.

If you’re not sure of any of the above, or aren’t sure if you’re affected, don’t come on here asking imbecilic questions – contact your water supplier.

Damn it! We are most to be the most intelligent species of animal on the planet! It’s just absurd!

I use the hose pipe to fill my fish transport tanks from the tap, as this is part of my business and as water is generally desired by fish I am assuming this is not covered.

I also have clients and in quires regarding water and fish welfare in drought conditions, can I assume under the animal welfare act that knowingly allowing an animal (fish even wild or fish in public ownership) to suffer or die because of lack of water is also an offence.

Could you please clarify or post absolute clarification with out passing the buck on what is the position for people who keep live fish in there garden ponds and water features.

The Guardian and other papers have included garden ponds in there list?

I am sure this is allowed after enquiring during the last water shortage.

Kind regards

Danial Hatherley-Hurford

Fisheries Consultant

You are quite correct in your assumptions especially with regards your duties under the animal welfare act, which effectively ˜trumps’ any hosepipe ban laws. So yes you may use hosepipes to top up or maintain garden ponds containing fish (or any other animals). This is stated on some pages on this website.

By the way, we never willingly pass the buck 🙂

we have a small watering system to cover our roof terrace – is this covered by the hosepipe ban? We are in SW4, London

OK, commercial flower displays can be watered using a hose pipe does that mean I can use a hose pipe to water the plants that are only being grown to be displayed at a commercial flower show?

So if ur aloud to use buckets does that mean u can fill a paddling pool up with buckets? Yh it will take long but the hosepipe won’t be plugged in??

Sorry Mr Hose. Not true for Thames Water (though they might have changed their policy since the 5th April – as most water companies seem to have over public pressure with one thing or another)

Quote:

Not be used for the following purposes:

Filling or maintaining a domestic swimming or paddling pool (except when using hand held containers filled directly from a tap);

http://www.thameswater.co.uk/cps/rde/xchg/corp/hs.xsl/15443.htm

why are we still allowed to use are taps and not are hosepipes because i would rather like to fill up my swimming pool this year and its going to be quite hard with buckes mr hose

hi me and my daughter own a small group of chickens in my back garden for obvious reasons they need water do we have to give the freash water from the tap to??

When my Dog defecates on our decking I always use a
hose to clean the surface after picking said faeces up.
Maybe I’ll use a copy of my annual waterbill now as its a Joke.

Question.
Is there a hosepipe ban in the UAE???
I think not…..sort it out as this is beyond stupid.

Find your water company on our website and see what they say about irrigation systems. Some are allowed if they meet certain criteria.

how do i know if i am affected by the hosepipe ban , will i be informed directly ??? i have tried looking but i am not sure still my water company is veolia and postcode cm21 !!!!

Have a look at Veolia’s website or contact them. We do not have a post code checking facility.

Well Auto Express Magazine saved me doing the water usage comparison:-

Jet Wash – 35L
Car Wash (Brushes) – 120L
Hose Wash (Hand Trigger) – 30L
Bucket Wash – 110L

Potential £1,000 fine for being water efficient is a travesty.

No mention of grey water use. We have a pump in our grey water but to feed a hose – I presume this is OK – am I right?

We’ve mentioned grey water many times as you are allowed to use it with a hosepipe. Likewise with stored rainwater.

After the 5th are we allowed to use a hose pipe to water the garden of a commercial premises? (Thames Water area)

Are the business’s on my industrial estate that use pressure washers to clean vehicles and machinery as part of the regular maintainence regimes exempt from the ban, there are significant health and safety considerations for working on dirty agricultural and horticultural machinery

i have just started growing a vegetable patch with my daughter in my garden is it ok to still water it with a bucket or are we totaly not aloud to water anything ?

Yes you can water it with a bucket/watering can as long as you don’t use a hosepipe to fill them.

Would you please clarify. Is the village of Curdridge (SO32) Hampshire affected by the Southern Water hose-pipe ban? There appears to be some confusion.

thanks Hose…….seems strange that i could use someones outside tap to jetwash their patio for money yet i cant use my outdoor tap at home to wash my own patio??? is this right? so could i water a customers plants with their hosepipe?

Hi Darren

It’s now the case that anyone can wash a patio with a jetwash if it’s a health risk not to do so. You couldn’t water anyone’s plants with a hosepipe even as part of a business.

Hello Hose, (of course, please ignore previous message)

We are mobile car valeting company. As I understood, we can still do the service, we`re limited company. My question is:

Can we use private house water if there isn`t a meter reading, without any notice for water companys, or shall we contact them to pay any extra charge for using it to fill the tank as a commercial?

Thank You for Your help

Best regards.

Hi Lucas

Depends which water company area you are under. Seems most are now allowing total use of water from domestic premises by businesses.

Thank you for the answer, I will contact Veolia – but do not hold out much hope………..

If I place a water butt near my outside tap and fill the butt from there using a bucket, then use a water butt pump to pump it out with a hose does that work….

Thanks

Mike

hi
,i run a gardening and maintenance company,
can i no longer use a jetwash after april the 5th?
can i clean my car at home with a jetwash?
can i use a hosepipe at my alottment?

Please help. thanks

Hi Darren

You can use a jetwash as part of your business activities, for instance if your car is a company car. Most people can’t use a hosepipe on an allotment but you may be able to if for instance you are producing plants for your business.

Hi David

Allotments are defined as gardens and you are not allowed to use a hosepipe on them once the bans come in.

I am due to recomission my hot tub after the Winter layoff, it’s currently filled and recomissioning involves adding a flushing agent for a couple of days and letting it cycle to clean the pipeork. Then it will be drained, surface cleaned and should then be refilled. Am I ok to do this as long as it’s refilled before 5th Apr? I feel a little guilty doing it but at least I’ll have the tub available during Summer, plus I’m on metered supply so it’s not like I’m hoarding.

Hi

I’d just like to check my understanding is correct for Thames Water…please can you confirm:

– we are still able to use a hose pipe to clean private motor vehicles up until 5th April

– after the 5th April private motor vehicles can be washed using buckets and watering cans

Also, the Ofwat statement specifies ‘cars’ may not be washed using a hose pipe….what about motor bikes? I assume they are covered by ‘motor vehicles’ but clarification would be good
please.

Thanks

Hi Waa Waa

You’re correct about cleaning cars. Not sure about motorbikes to be honest, we’ll have to look that one up.

please can you advise if irrigation systems for the garden are outside the present ban? this question would pertain to the London area
thankyou

Hi Lyndon

Certain types of irrigation are allowed for the first time during this year’s ban.

I use my hosepipe to transport water to my back garden so that I can fill up my watering can instead of carrying it to the rear of the property as I have mobility issues but I am not disabled. Does this count as a breach of a ban?

Hi Hose,

I suspected that a constantly running hosepipe would be the measure and I agree it’s a bit general as a yardstick, more applicable to garden sprinkler usage.
I think I may just speak to Anglian Water if they activate the ban and put this question to them. I’ll report back to this blog with any results I get.

I regularly wash my car as I never take it through car washes, I have a hosepipe running off a standpipe with a lever ball valve. The buisiness end of the hose has a trigger operated nozzle and the hose run is 10m in length. Using this I control the water used very nicely, I can garauntee that by filling my buckets and rinsing by throwing 10L water bombs over the car I will probably use more water than before. Of course I’ll obey a hosepipe ban but as I am on a water meter I will have a good indication if what I suspect will prove true. I wonder if I prove my point how that would stack up in court if I decided to save water by using my hosepipe to wash the car during a ban.

Hi Robert

Many people are saying the same thing and I know Auto Express have recently printed an article suggesting much more water is used when washing with buckets.

I suspect water companies measure the usage of a hosepiped car wash based on the idea the hose is left running throughout the operation, which seems a bit daft.

Well someone should tell my nieghbour to stop wasteing all that water presure washer has been going for over an hour now cleaning his drive way what a waste of water. water metres should be in all households why should I pay the same as others who use so much water

I see that a ban will come into force on 6th April. Would I be banned from using a hosepipe to water my garden by pumping water from my rainwater butt?

Hi Barry

No you would not be banned from doing that as long as the water butt is never fed from the mains supply.

how legal is a hosepipe ban ?
what rights have the water companies?
under what legislation is this enforceable?
Is this all just scaremongering?

Hi Steven

The hosepipe ban is perfectly legal. Laws have been around for many years that allow water companies to apply for temporary water restrictions under certain conditions.

Hosepipe ban may be legal but may not be Lawful. If you refuse to enter a contract with whom ever knocks on your door (if you use a hosepipe during a `ban`), then there may be nothing Lawful to stop you?

Hi Pitbull

No, there are no licences available for anything. Unless you are selling your veg as part of a business you can’t use a hosepipe on them. Irrigation systems are fine though.

ive got a fish pond if there is a hose puipe ban am i allowed to keep the pond full of water as ive got a duty of care to my pets

Ok me hearties … start digging your wells … no ban on using a hosepipe for well water … allowed to extract 20 m^3 a day.

There are no hosepipe bans anywhere in the UK at the moment and there are unlikely to be any in 2011.

Hi,

Same question as everyone else…is there a ban in London (in particular Harrow)? I cannot find any current information for August.

Many thanks.

I wish to know the same as andy is there a hose ban in south east please or will there be one and when if known.

Thank you

Is there an hose pipe ban due in the south east of England? we have not had rain for weeks and still my next door neighbor is using a sprinkler on his grass, can’t wait to tell him when it does come in. lol

I can collect a large water butt FULL of water in 10 minutes of average rainfall from only part of my roof area. This lasts me 2 – 3 weeks of watering plants and vegetables in my garden, AND, given our normal rainfall, the butt remains full, and I have to have an overflow system in place. If I can do that in 10mins, I feel there must be some serious mismanagement of water collection/storage happening somewhere.

I do not want to break the law but am not getting any info. on whether the ban is still on in Chorley, Lancashire. Please reply.

I have had a land slide all over my drive way. I have moved the earth but desparetly need to use a pipe to get rid of the sludge. Using buckets would use more water and take forever. Is the ban still on in Lancashire as the wet ground caused the slide in the first place?? Please let me know. Yours faithfully, Mrs Muddy House

Walking around the reservoirs in the NW we notice that the streams feeding the reservoirs are in full flow, and that any natural ponds /lakes adjacent to the reservoirs are full. Yet the reservoirs themselves are empty. Strange isn’t it ?

Why is it that the wettest part of England has a hosepipe ban ? Our visitors from the SE are amazed by how green our vegetation is compared to their yellow baked terrain, and yet they have no ban. Strange isn’t it ?

I heard that UU export tankers full of drinking water to France and Spain. Can anyone confirm this? If so, have they continued to do so through the hosepipe ban?

What i don`t understand is this, if the water companies need to put in place a hosepipe ban then why can`t they make it a 6 day ban and allow customers to use a hosepipe on one day at the weekend. The water companies could decide which day we can use a hosepipe, a 6 day ban for me is a lot fairer and a compromise.

Ive found that by using a watering can i use more water in a lot of situations than i would have done with a pressured hosepipe.

I live in the wigan/St Helens area and have just got back from holidays, can you confirm if the hosepipe ban is still on for this area?
Ta

Can anyone confirm if this ban is still in place in the northwest?
3 weeks of rain now should have rectified things?

Hi – I pity those of you affected by this who have just paid for new turf lawns!!! I suppose giving one inch of water every day or so to the strips will keep you fit if you have to use a watering can – enjoy 🙂 I have just sorted my lawn before any word of a ban. Now it just looks after itself.

i wondered if you can advise how i can water 2 vegetable plots with watering cans more easily? i grow all my own vegetables, and have 3 greenhouses full of tomates, peppers etc for self sufficiency, the environment and to give to friends. why cant we conserve water more easily as we are 70% water on this planet! also i pay hefty water rates, and feel we need to manage our water more efficiently

It’s a joke!!!
When a reservoir is at full capacity it is enough to last 5 years!!
Over the winter we had floods up and down the country so every reservoir was full. We do not live in a third world country and for 9 months of the year we get rain more often than not!!!
This is a scam implemented by United Utilities to raise the price of a commodity that FALLS FROM THE SKY!!!!!
They charge us for something that nature provides for free!!!
You mark my words that AIR will be next, they will find a way to charge us for air… It’s ridiculous and i ain’t conforming

Rain FALLS FROM THE SKY , true. How does that rain water get to your taps. There are no intermediary organisations involved in supplying AIR to your lungs therefore I will not be marking your words

Maurice

Me and my dad are planning to put the swimming pool up this summer so i have three questions:

1. When does the ban begin?
2. Does it apply to swimming pool fillings
3. Does the ban apply to Talke in Stoke-On-Trent?

A reply would be apreciated and today would be brilliant.
Thankyou

Hi I have a mobile valeting business in burnley lancashire. im i band from filling up my tank. i did hear that it only applies to people washing there own private cars

thnk you

The current hosepipe ban does not prevent you from using a hose to wash or water animals (or to clean things such as patio, path, etc or even for filling swimming pools, water butts or watering cans). It *only* restricts the use of a mains-fed hosepipe for watering private gardens and washing private cars. NO commercial hosepipe uses are currently prohibited. For further details:
http://twitter.com/unitedutilities
http://www.unitedutilities.com/Hosepipeban.htm
http://www.unitedutilities.com/BanCommercial.htm
http://www.hozelock.com/UK-Water-Restrictions/hose-restrictions-2.html

will this ban affect the use of hoses to fill up the water container in my horses field?

Will it also mean that I am unable to bath my horse on Saturday for a show on Sunday?

Hi, I have tried to find out what i canin relation to this ban. I am involved in the running of a large fleet of trucks. Am i correct in coming to the conclusion that we can still wash our trucks? At this time of year it is very much a safety thing – you can’t see out of dirty windows.

Help much appreciated

Scott

Your trucks are not windows. Clean the windows for safety, that is most important. The trucks will still operate dirt or no dirt Maurice

I read above, that they say the West Country is at risk, the last I heard from the Met Office, the reservoirs in the West are over 80% full, so why that notice? Since I moved to the West, we have never had a hose pipe ban, even in the drought of the 70s, so what are they talking about?

I live in Winsford Cheshire (CW7) and I have heard that the Northwest is having a hosepipe ban starting at the end of this week, will this include Cheshire?

untited utilities is my water supplier,they serve the north west region.in the early 1960 plans were drawn up and passed to flood the long preston area (near Settle) because of the increasing population, this was later withdrawn reason, ‘we can cope’.45 years on the only thing that has happened is lots of top up reservoir’s have been filled in and built on,the population has gone up at least 10% if they thought about doing this 45 years ago surely to goodness we must need extra water holding area’s now

Hi there

I have a Mobile car valeting business in the Manchester area. I belive as of Friday 9th July the North West will have a hosepipe ban. Do i have to apply for any special licence or anything to be able to continue working. or will i just be left alone because it’s my livelyhood?

I know the purpose of this space is to determine whether or not we are affected by a ban- but I just have to ask this: In desert areas like Arizona, there is enough water for people to irrigate and water even though the annual rainfall is a fraction of what it is here. On this tiny island where it rains SO much, it seems as soon as we have a few dry days we are in a drought! If water companies invested some of their ample profit into updating their reservoirs and repairing the leaking Victorian infrastructure, we wouldn’t be faced with these bans in the first place. Frankly, I don’t know why consumers put up with it. Responsible water use is EVERYONE’s responsibility- including the water companies. As a consumer, I’m sure I only have a portion of the picture. Am I missing something here?

DO people actually get prosecuted for breaching a hosepipe ban ?

I heard on another site that NO_ONE had ever been successfully presecuted.

You’ll be fine Lauren, no hosepipe bans yet. I’d have guessed there would be special provision for washing animals anyway, even if there were restrictions.

Hi,
I have 2 upcoming horse shows so will need to bath my horse in the next two weeks, one on the 27th june and another on the 4th july, will I be able to do this? I live in Lancashire?
Thankyou 🙂

HOSE PIPE BAN ON FRIDAY 25TH JUNE 2010
WILL TAKE PLACE IN GREATER MANCHESTER (RAINY CITY)

IT WAS ON THE LOCAL NEWS.
WE HAVE NOT HAD RAIN IN MONTHS HERE.

Hi

Just had to put some new turf down over new pipes and septic tank – gardener says there is a hosepipe ban at the moment in Kent – is this right?

Hi Michelle
Yes it’s legal and there’s also no hosepipe ban in place at the moment. Whether or not it’s ethically sound is another question!

I have just noticed my neighbour has left her hosepipe on watering the front garden and gone off to work – is this legal?

Good point Bea! There’s actually been nothing to update in that time though, as there are still no hosepipe bans in place.

Page last updates in Feb 2007 – is this information reliable for Jul/Aug 2008!? Please could you post a current update?

Hi Helen.

Each water company has their own rules about allotments so the best thing to do would be to contact your local water company directly and ask them. But as far as I know this would only be considered if there is a general hosepipe ban in your area first. Cheshire missed out last time we had hosepipe bans and shouldn’t be under threat this year.

I heard there is going to be a hosepipe ban on allotments this year, can you tell me if this is correct and if so, when it will come into force. There are many concerned tenants on our allotments in Cheshire who would like to know!

One of the major car magazines carried out a controlled test a little while ago and proved conclusively that using a hosepipe with a trigger control head is much more economical of water use than doing the equivalent wash and rinse using buckets. Isn’t it about time that the water companies commissioned a proper, independant test to establish a true comparison of the two methods. It’s easy for them to assume the worst case where people use a hosepipe with a continuous water flow, but I suspect that, these days, the majority use a much more economical trigger-controlled hose head-unit for car washing.

Hi sonal. You’re totally fine using your hosepipes in Ilford. There are no hosepipe bans anywhere right now. Good luck with the car wash!

I would like to know if the hose pipe ban
has been lifted in east london, mainly in the ilford
area and if not can anyone recieve permission
to use hose pipes, as my group of friends and i
are organising a chairty car wash.

Hi Angela – mains water as opposed to what other source? Not sure really and this is only a proposal for now I believe. You might like to ask Defra for a definitive answer – http://www.defra.gov.uk – and we’d be interested to hear what they say.

Hi Hamish – depends where you live. Many places in the UK haven’t had a hosepipe ban in the last 10 years. Even some of the worst affected areas have only had 1 ban in the last 10 years.

How many times have hosepipe bans been implemented in the last 10 years?

from a keen but still concerned gardener

Hi Olinda, sorry for the confusion. The date of this post (see above) is the 27th of February which was around the time when the last of the bans were removed. The post you saw on the 16th of January is just kept for history really.

So the answer to your question is that there is definitely no hosepipe ban in place at the moment in Reading or any other place in the UK. Hope this clarifies things and happy hosing!

When i was reading on this site it says Hose wrote on jan 16th that Hosepipe Ban has not been lifted; and yet when I checked ‘Which Areas Have Bans’ it says No where has a ban right now, this has confused me a bit can you please clarify. I live in Reading is the Hosepipe ban applicable here?

At the time of writing there are no hosepipe bans in place in England, so yes, it’s been lifted in Datchet. Hope this helps.

I would like to know if the hosepipe ban has been lifted in the Datchet, SL3 area ???
Your speedy reply would be appreciated

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