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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
National
Patrick Daly & Jack Abela

Hosepipe ban punishment - £1,000 fine for breaking rules and how you can get caught

The UK's hot weather is set to keep scorching with warnings of a continued heatwave and severely dry spell hitting the nation.

Millions of people have been affected by new hosepipe ban rules after Yorkshire Water announced a ban from August 26 and Thames Water reportedly planning to enforce restrictions soon too.

Garden-lovers have been tending to their patchy plants in the evenings during some of the driest conditions Britain has faced in 100 years.

As temperatures continue to soar, some areas of the UK are predicted to hit 36C this weekend (August 12).

With some reservoirs creeping worryingly low, water suppliers have acted in a bid to save H2O.

It comes after the Met Office last month issued its first ever Red Extreme heat warning across the whole of the UK, during which the hottest day on record was reached.

With hosepipe bans now in place and more on the way, the Mirror looks at what the rules are and whether you can be fined for flouting them.

What are the rules of a hosepipe ban?

Those flouting hosepipe ban restrictions can be fined (Getty Images)

A hosepipe ban is when outdoor water use is restricted in a bid to ration water for human hygiene and sanitation.

During the period of a ban, sprinklers, hosepipes and private irrigation systems are prohibited from being used in an effort to keep water in adequate supply.

For the general public, this means no using hosepipes to water your garden, wash your car, or fill up a paddling pool.

Allotments are also traditionally covered under the same rules.

Rule-breakers can be prosecuted and fined up to £1,000 following a magistrates court summons.

However, water firms say they prefer “education over enforcement”.

Individual water utility companies are allowed to set the terms and conditions for their ban, including hours of the ban, and if there are any extenuating circumstances.

What can you do during a hosepipe ban?

Although you cannot use a hose, you can still water your garden with a watering can.

The use of watering cans, buckets and other ways to carry water is usually deemed acceptable for watering the garden, or your car.

Before you do this, however, green-fingered residents should be sure to check the specific rules in place with their local water provider.

Are there currently hosepipe bans in the UK?

Kent's Dartford Central Park's lawns are parched following the hot dry weather (Fraser Gray/REX/Shutterstock)

Southern Water has brought in a temporary use ban (TUB) — the official name for a hosepipe ban — as of Friday, August 5.

The move affects Hampshire and the Isle of Wight due to the consistently hot and arid weather.

South East Water also announced a hosepipe ban starting on August 12, which will affect its customers in Kent and Sussex.

Welsh Water plans to bring in similar restrictions on August 19 to cover Pembrokeshire.

Thames Water, which supplies 2.6 billion litres of water to more than 10 million customers across London and Thames Valley each day — but loses nearly a quarter of supplies in leaks — has refused to rule out a temporary use ban.

According to water suppliers, people in the UK used a record-breaking amount of water during the July heatwave in an attempt to stay hydrated and keep cool.

With temperatures unlikely to drop any time soon, Brits are being urged to try to ration their water use.

Months of little rainfall and record-breaking heat has left rivers worryingly low and reservoirs depleted.

Those conditions do not look set to change either, with the Met Office warning there is “very little meaningful rain” on the horizon for parched areas of England as temperatures are set to climb into the 30s next week.

Can I use a hosepipe at all during a ban?

Hosepipes can still be used for some things, such as cleaning out wheelie bins or washing your carpets.

Washing pets or livestock is also allowed, though for all tasks people are advised to use water sparingly.

Cleaning patios and gutters is still allowed for hosepipe use, as leaving these unattended can cause safety issues.

The TUB in effect in for Southern Water customers does not impose restrictions on essential and commercial uses of water, such as commercial window cleaners and car washes, or businesses that need water as part of their operations, such as zoos.

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