Hosepipe ban for millions of UK households from Monday - how to avoid £1,000 fine

A number of water suppliers have brought in hosepipe bans following a period of hot and dry weather in the UK. The latest to do so was Southern Water, which will implement the hosepipe ban from 9am on Monday, July 21, in the areas of Hampshire and the Isle of Wight. However, some customers are exempt from the ban, including those with blue badges and people on Southern Water's Priority Services Register with medical or mobility issues.

A drought was declared in parts of the UK in recent weeks following an exceptionally dry spring. A number of other areas across the country, as well as the south, have been affected by hosepipe bans. Thames Water is set to bring in a ban from Tuesday, July 22, affecting areas including Oxfordshire, Gloucestershire, most of Wiltshire and parts of Berkshire. Meanwhile, Yorkshire Water has had a ban in place since July 11 as the region experienced its driest spring on record. Additionally, South East Water introduced restrictions on Friday, July 18, for households in Kent and Sussex.

No end date for these hosepipe bans have been confirmed and there are fines of £1,000 for people who ignore them. When a hosepipe ban is in place, households cannot use their garden hoses to water plants, wash their cars or fill up paddling pools.

The £1,000 fines exist under the Management Act 2010, but there are exceptions to the rule. For those with newly laid turf, they can water to for a restricted time period, which typically lasts 28 days, to stop it from drying out.

However, those who wish to water their gardens will have to use a watering can or bucket to do so. But gardens that utilise approved drip or trickle irrigation systems fitted with pressure-reducing valves are typically exempt from such bans.

Blue badge holders who need to fill a pool for medical reasons are usually exempt as well. Yorkshire Water has reported that its reservoirs are 55.8 per cent full, which is 26.1 per cent lower than they should be at this time of year.

Droughts have also been declared in the Midlands, Cumbria, Lancashire, Greater Manchester, Merseyside, and Cheshire, so more hosepipe bans might be announced.

Hosepipe bans do not affect businesses where water is central to their operation, such as garden centres and car washing services. When it comes to households, they have been asked to reduce their water usage overall.

Water providers have asked Brits to take shorter showers, turn off taps when they are not in use and collect rainwater to use in gardens.