Latest news with #TemporaryUsageBan
South Wales Argus
4 days ago
- General
- South Wales Argus
What happens if you break the hosepipe ban in the UK?
Hosepipe bans are put in place by utility companies typically to tackle ongoing supply issues amid warmer weather. But what can you not do under a hosepipe ban, and what are the consequences for breaking it? Large fines could be issued to those flaunting the rules, so here is all you need to know. There are a number of rules you have to follow during a hosepipe ban or face a large fine (Image: Getty Images/iStockphoto) What can you not do during a hosepipe ban? A hosepipe ban, officially called a Temporary Usage Ban (TUB), does what it says on the tin and works to ban the use of hosepipes over a period of time. As explained by the Consumer Council for Water, the ban stays in place until the "situation is improved" and is usually up to the discretion of the utility company. It stops several activities involving water usage in the garden and beyond. Yorkshire Water, which put in place the first hosepipe ban of the year, said users will need to stop using hosepipes for: Watering the garden or plants in your garden at home Cleaning private vehicles or boats Filling or maintaining a swimming pool, paddling pool, hot tub or cold-water plunge pool at home Filling or maintaining a domestic pond or ornamental fountain Cleaning your home's walls or windows yourself Cleaning paths, patios or artificial outdoor surfaces Typically, there are some exceptions to the rules, which may differ per utility company and will be outlined on their website. Yorkshire, it's time to put the hosepipes down for a bit. This will help our region's reservoir levels recover and protect Yorkshire's water resources throughout the summer months, following the driest spring for 132 years, which led to the region being declared in drought.… — Yorkshire Water 💧 (@YorkshireWater) July 11, 2025 During hosepipe bans, you can usually still carry out these activities using water from a bucket or a watering can, or water that is not sourced from mains water. What happens if you break the hosepipe ban in the UK? If you are caught breaking a hosepipe ban, you could be fined up to £1,000. As Yorkshire Water explains: "The legislation gives a court power to fine customers who ignore it up to £1,000, but we hope it won't come to that." It added that it "hopes customers would respect the restrictions", but will enforce it if not. The utility continued: "We will be asking everyone to adhere to the restrictions. If we are told repeatedly about someone breaking the restrictions, the first thing we do is remind them of their obligations. "This is usually enough. However, if they continue to use a hosepipe, we may escalate our enforcement accordingly." How much water should you drink daily? Meanwhile, South East Water, which announced its hosepipe ban in Sussex and Kent on Friday (July 11), said "prosecution is a last resort" but also warned of £1,000 fines at worst. Where is there a hosepipe ban in the UK? As of the morning of Saturday, July 12, there is just one hosepipe ban in place, by Yorkshire Water, for all of its customers in the area. A second, which South East Water announced on Friday (July 11), will not come into effect until Friday, July 18. If you want to find out if your area has a hosepipe ban in place, first find your supplier by using Water UK's postcode checker. Recommended reading: From there, you can contact your water supplier or check their website for any restrictions. There are chances for more hosepipe bans, with the UK's biggest water company, Thames Water, previously saying it was 'not confident' it could avoid bringing in restrictions this summer. Other major water companies, while not bringing in bans at the moment, are understood to be keeping it under review.
ITV News
6 days ago
- Climate
- ITV News
Has a hosepipe ban been declared in your area?
Hosepipe bans have been announced for parts of the UK this week as a series of heatwaves and dry weather have led to record-breaking water demand. The UK saw its warmest spring on record this year with England experiencing its driest spring since 1893, according to the Met Office. Millions of households across the UK are affected by the latest bans but how long could they last and which areas are affected? What is a hosepipe ban? A hosepipe ban, officially called a Temporary Usage Ban (TUB), means people will not be allowed to use a hosepipe for any reason, including activities such as: What is the penalty for using a hosepipe during the ban? Customers who ignore the ban and use their hosepipe could be prosecuted and issued a fine up to £1,000. If the water company is made aware of people breaching the conditions, they may be sent a letter or correspondence first reminding them of the ban. Which water companies have announced bans? Yorkshire Water A hosepipe ban came into force on Friday affecting around five million households in the region. You are likely to be affected if you live in: It does not affect customers who receive only wastewater services from Yorkshire Water. In June the Environment Agency officially declared a drought in the county with reservoirs currently around three-quarters of their normal levels for the time of year. Yorkshire Water's director of water, Dave Kaye, said: "Introducing these restrictions is not a decision we have taken lightly, and we've been doing everything we can to avoid having to put them in place." South East Water The water company announced a hosepipe ban would come into force on July 18 for those living in parts of Kent and Sussex. Areas affected are: The water company said it has supplied 680 million litres of water in one day this year and is monitoring the situation in its Western region covering parts of Surrey, Hampshire and Berkshire. Coastal regions in Kent and Sussex such as Dover and Folkestone are not included in this ban, as they have a seperate water supplier. In a statement, South East Water said: 'Demand for drinking water in Kent and Sussex has reached record levels since May – with the ongoing warm and dry weather, we're all using far more water than usual. 'This situation has left us with no choice but to restrict the use of hosepipes and sprinklers, so we can help our reservoirs and underground water storage recover." Thames Water No hose pipe ban in place but said it was monitoring the situation across its coverage, which includes Oxfordshire, Berkshire and Greater London. Is there exemptions? Yes you can be exempt if you are using the water for "health and safety" or medical reasons. Customers who are disabled or a blue badge holder are also exempt from the ban. Hospipes can also be used for the health or safety of animals, including fish. It can also be used by those in allotments to grow crops, but not for flowers or gardening. Contact your water provider if you think you might be exempt.
Glasgow Times
6 days ago
- Climate
- Glasgow Times
How to use the UK Hosepipe ban postcode checker 2025
Yorkshire Water has, as of Friday (July 11) introduced restrictions on using hosepipes, with South East Water also putting in a ban. This covers activities such as watering the garden, cleaning cars and filling paddling pools, in an effort to protect supplies with more dry weather forecasts predicted. But will other areas introduce similar? Here is all you need to know. Yorkshire, it's time to put the hosepipes down for a bit. This will help our region's reservoir levels recover and protect Yorkshire's water resources throughout the summer months, following the driest spring for 132 years, which led to the region being declared in drought.… — Yorkshire Water 💧 (@YorkshireWater) July 11, 2025 What is a hosepipe ban? A hosepipe ban, which is officially called a Temporary Usage Ban (TUB), is implemented by individual water companies. It is typically put in place due to water shortages, which can be caused by things such as drought conditions or high demand. A previous report by the Environment Agency (EA) warned that England is facing a big issue unless "urgent action" is taken. Those who ignore the ban could face fines of up to £1,000. What can you not do if a hosepipe ban is in place? A hosepipe ban stops several activities involving water usage in the garden and beyond. The first UK hosepipe ban is in place in Yorkshire (Image: Getty Images) Yorkshire Water has said users will need to stop using hosepipes for things like: Watering the garden or plants in your garden at home Cleaning private vehicles or boats Filling or maintaining a swimming pool, paddling pool, hot tub or cold-water plunge pool at home Filling or maintaining a domestic pond or ornamental fountain Cleaning your home's walls or windows yourself Cleaning paths, patios or artificial outdoor surfaces Yorkshire Water added that you can still carry out these activities if you're using water from a bucket or a watering can. You can also use water that is not sourced from mains water, such as grey water, rainwater from a water butt through a hosepipe, or private boreholes for example. How long does a hosepipe ban last? As explained by the Consumer Council for Water, the ban wil stay in place until the "situation is improved". How to Cope with Hot Weather? It adds: "Your company will announce when they are being removed. The company should provide regular updates. "It may not feel like much, but everyone playing their part during a hose pipe ban can make a real difference." How to check if there is a hosepipe ban in my area If you want to find out if your area has a hosepipe ban in place, first find your supplier by using Water UK's postcode checker. From there, you can contact your water supplier or check their website to check for any restrictions. Recommended reading: With drought having been declared in north-west England, and with the North East, Yorkshire, East and West Midlands also experiencing dry weather, there are chances for more hosepipe bans. Last month, executives at Thames Water, the UK's biggest water company, said they were 'not confident' they could avoid bringing in restrictions this summer. Other major water companies, while not bringing in bans at the moment, are keeping it under review.
North Wales Chronicle
6 days ago
- Climate
- North Wales Chronicle
How to use the UK Hosepipe ban postcode checker 2025
Yorkshire Water has, as of Friday (July 11) introduced restrictions on using hosepipes, with South East Water also putting in a ban. This covers activities such as watering the garden, cleaning cars and filling paddling pools, in an effort to protect supplies with more dry weather forecasts predicted. But will other areas introduce similar? Here is all you need to know. Yorkshire, it's time to put the hosepipes down for a bit. This will help our region's reservoir levels recover and protect Yorkshire's water resources throughout the summer months, following the driest spring for 132 years, which led to the region being declared in drought.… A hosepipe ban, which is officially called a Temporary Usage Ban (TUB), is implemented by individual water companies. It is typically put in place due to water shortages, which can be caused by things such as drought conditions or high demand. A previous report by the Environment Agency (EA) warned that England is facing a big issue unless "urgent action" is taken. Those who ignore the ban could face fines of up to £1,000. A hosepipe ban stops several activities involving water usage in the garden and beyond. The first UK hosepipe ban is in place in Yorkshire (Image: Getty Images) Yorkshire Water has said users will need to stop using hosepipes for things like: Yorkshire Water added that you can still carry out these activities if you're using water from a bucket or a watering can. You can also use water that is not sourced from mains water, such as grey water, rainwater from a water butt through a hosepipe, or private boreholes for example. As explained by the Consumer Council for Water, the ban wil stay in place until the "situation is improved". It adds: "Your company will announce when they are being removed. The company should provide regular updates. "It may not feel like much, but everyone playing their part during a hose pipe ban can make a real difference." If you want to find out if your area has a hosepipe ban in place, first find your supplier by using Water UK's postcode checker. From there, you can contact your water supplier or check their website to check for any restrictions. Recommended reading: With drought having been declared in north-west England, and with the North East, Yorkshire, East and West Midlands also experiencing dry weather, there are chances for more hosepipe bans. Last month, executives at Thames Water, the UK's biggest water company, said they were 'not confident' they could avoid bringing in restrictions this summer. Other major water companies, while not bringing in bans at the moment, are keeping it under review.
Leader Live
6 days ago
- Climate
- Leader Live
How to use the UK Hosepipe ban postcode checker 2025
Yorkshire Water has, as of Friday (July 11) introduced restrictions on using hosepipes, with South East Water also putting in a ban. This covers activities such as watering the garden, cleaning cars and filling paddling pools, in an effort to protect supplies with more dry weather forecasts predicted. But will other areas introduce similar? Here is all you need to know. Yorkshire, it's time to put the hosepipes down for a bit. This will help our region's reservoir levels recover and protect Yorkshire's water resources throughout the summer months, following the driest spring for 132 years, which led to the region being declared in drought.… A hosepipe ban, which is officially called a Temporary Usage Ban (TUB), is implemented by individual water companies. It is typically put in place due to water shortages, which can be caused by things such as drought conditions or high demand. A previous report by the Environment Agency (EA) warned that England is facing a big issue unless "urgent action" is taken. Those who ignore the ban could face fines of up to £1,000. A hosepipe ban stops several activities involving water usage in the garden and beyond. The first UK hosepipe ban is in place in Yorkshire (Image: Getty Images) Yorkshire Water has said users will need to stop using hosepipes for things like: Yorkshire Water added that you can still carry out these activities if you're using water from a bucket or a watering can. You can also use water that is not sourced from mains water, such as grey water, rainwater from a water butt through a hosepipe, or private boreholes for example. As explained by the Consumer Council for Water, the ban wil stay in place until the "situation is improved". It adds: "Your company will announce when they are being removed. The company should provide regular updates. "It may not feel like much, but everyone playing their part during a hose pipe ban can make a real difference." If you want to find out if your area has a hosepipe ban in place, first find your supplier by using Water UK's postcode checker. From there, you can contact your water supplier or check their website to check for any restrictions. Recommended reading: With drought having been declared in north-west England, and with the North East, Yorkshire, East and West Midlands also experiencing dry weather, there are chances for more hosepipe bans. Last month, executives at Thames Water, the UK's biggest water company, said they were 'not confident' they could avoid bringing in restrictions this summer. Other major water companies, while not bringing in bans at the moment, are keeping it under review.
