Hosepipe ban

Legally, some business activity is exempt from the restrictions. This is to prevent economic harm and also takes into account companies’ health and safety and other legal obligations.  Many businesses also invest in low water pressure apparatus and water recycling which means they are more water efficient. 

This is based on the legislation plus industry guidance which has incorporated consultation with trade organisations impacted by previous droughts. For example, car washes, National Plant Collections and watering active parts of sports grounds are exempt from the restrictions. 

As a business, you will be allowed to use a hosepipe if this is directly related to the use of water for your commercial purposes. There are restrictions on business customers using a hosepipe if not for those essential needs – so using a hosepipe to clean a path outside your business property, for example, would be covered by the restrictions. There are more specific examples in the questions below and further information on our website. 

We’re continually monitoring the situation. We're not planning to impose further water use restrictions at the moment. Clearly, if the dry weather continues for a prolonged period, we may reach the point where further restrictions could be required. We would need a statutory order to put this in place. This is set out in our statutory drought plan. 

Yes. 

You can use hosepipes and sprinklers where it is directly related to your day-to-day business excluding the watering of gardens. We would, however, encourage the use of low water usage technology.  

You can use customers' hosepipes and sprinklers where it is directly related to your day-to-day business excluding the watering of domestic gardens. We would, however, encourage the use of low water usage technology, such as a low water use pressure washer wherever possible. 

Please only use standpipes where absolutely necessary. You can only use specific hydrants at strategic points according to your licence. You must use the hydrants you have been given permission to use to reduce the effect of pressure on the network. Make sure your licence is up-to-date and ensure fittings are working properly and not wasting water. 

You can use a hosepipe for activities directly associated with your building work, e.g. mixing cement, but not for cleaning paths and roads unless for health and safety purposes. You can continue to water newly laid turf (until its 28 days old) with a hosepipe. 

Yes, this activity isn’t prohibited by the restrictions. However, where possible we would ask that the testing of these systems is delayed until the restrictions have been lifted. 

No, hospitals are exempt from the restrictions. If certain activities, like maintaining public gardens, can be done using alternative methods - such as watering cans or more water-efficient products - then these practices are encouraged and permitted to continue during the temporary restrictions. 

No, prisons are exempt from the restrictions. 

Not all activities are covered by the temporary restrictions, for example, cleaning the windows of non-domestic buildings and washing pathways for health and safety reasons.  

Under the restrictions, you can’t use a hosepipe to water your communal garden. Instead, try using a watering can or consider alternatives such as drip or trickle irrigation systems. These systems come with pressure-reducing valves and timers, making them more water-efficient. Plus, they're not affected by the restrictions, so you can keep your garden thriving without any worries. However, all water users are urged to conserve water whenever they can. 

You wouldn’t be able to use your hosepipe for this; you’d need to find an alternative way to keep the vehicle clean such as using a bucket and sponge. 

You wouldn’t be able to use your hosepipe for this; you’d need to find an alternative way to keep the cars clean such as using a bucket and sponge.  

No, but you can hold a charity car wash as long as you use buckets and sponges and not hosepipes or pressure washers. 

Limousines are not exempt. They’d need to be washed by another method, either with a bucket and sponge or low water usage apparatus. We’re not saying you can’t use water; we just want people to use less wasteful methods. 

Hosepipes can be used but only where the vehicles are for sale or where you offer a car wash/valeting service that customers have paid for specifically either as a single service or included in a service package. We would, however, ask that you look for ways to use your water as efficiently as possible. Hosepipes use a thousand litres of water an hour, that’s more than a family of four use in a day. 

The use of a hosepipe to clean customer-owned vehicles as a complimentary or free service would not be permitted. You can still use water in a bucket, low water-use jet washer or waterless car washing products that are now available. A bucket and sponge may only use 10 litres. We’re not saying you can’t use water; we just want people to use less wasteful methods. 

Commercial car washes are not affected by the temporary usage restrictions.   

Yes, this is exempt from the restrictions. 

If you’re growing these flowers to sell or for commercial use, then you can continue to water these with a hosepipe. We would, however, encourage the use of a watering can or other water efficient devices such as drip or trickle irrigation systems. These systems come with pressure-reducing valves and timers, making them more water-efficient. Plus, they're not affected by the restrictions. 

If you have a flowerbed on your premises which isn’t for sale, then you cannot use a hosepipe for this.  

Please note, filling displayed ornamental fountains with a hosepipe is also prohibited unless this is necessary to supply sufficient oxygen to the water in a pond to keep fish healthy. 

Under the restrictions, you can’t use a hosepipe to water your communal garden. Instead, try using a watering can or consider alternatives such as drip or trickle irrigation systems. These systems come with pressure-reducing valves and timers, making them more water-efficient. Plus, they're not affected by the restrictions, so you can keep your garden thriving without any worries. 

You have up to 28 days from when these are planted to use a hosepipe or sprinkler, after that you’d need to use an alternative method, such as a watering can or products such as drip or trickle irrigation systems. These systems come with pressure-reducing valves and timers, making them more water-efficient. Plus, they're not affected by the restrictions, so you can keep your flowers thriving without any worries. 

Under the restrictions, you can’t use a hosepipe for this, you’d have to use an alternative such as a such as a watering can or products such as drip or trickle irrigation systems. These systems come with pressure-reducing valves and timers, making them more water-efficient. Plus, they're not affected by the restrictions. 

Where there is a health and safety requirement to water an area of sports ground this is permitted, but only for the active playing area. We would still encourage other means of watering that are not as water demanding as hosepipes and sprinklers. 

During the period of the restrictions, hosepipes and sprinklers cannot be used for watering floral beds or displays or hanging baskets in public locations. We welcome every organisation’s support to use water as efficiently as they can, particularly when it comes to carrying out tasks which are part of regular maintenance activities.  

In terms of alternatives to hosepipes and sprinklers, there are products such as drip or trickle irrigation systems, fitted with pressure reducing valves and timers, making them more water-efficient. Plus, they're not affected by the restrictions.  

We appreciate that local authorities do take their own role in using water as carefully as possible seriously and if activities, such as public garden maintenance or watering town centre floral displays, can be done using alternative means, such as using watering cans, or alternative more water efficient products, then this is welcomed and is allowed to continue during this period of temporary restrictions. Reducing the amount of watering which is routinely undertaken will also be hugely helpful. 

Yes, a hosepipe can be used to water food crops at domestic premises or private allotments, where this cannot be reasonably done via a watering can. 

As a commercial business you are exempt from the restrictions. 

Where the graffiti is a hate crime, insulting or offensive a hosepipe can be used to clean this.

Not all activities are covered by the temporary restrictions, e.g. cleaning the windows of non-domestic buildings or washing public service vehicles. However, ALL water users are urged to conserve water whenever they can, and we have given water-saving advice to councils and other commercial customers. Should the situation deteriorate, consideration would be given to applying for powers to restrict other activities. 

The park splash area is exempt as it’s not a domestic pool or domestic recreational area, but we’d clearly welcome any measures the council could take to reduce water wastage during the restrictions. 

You cannot fill or maintain an ornamental fountain/water feature with a hosepipe while the restrictions are in place. 

Yes, a hosepipe can be used for pools within places of worship or community pools that are used as part of a religious ceremony.