More hosepipe bans could be introduced in the UK after a drought was declared in some parts of the country. Five water companies have already announced bans as Britons continue to swelter through hot and dry conditions.
But what does it actually mean? And what can you do during a hosepipe ban? Under restrictions, water company customers are banned from using a hosepipe to water their gardens, clean their vehicles, fill their swimming pools or water fountains, clean patios or any artificial outdoor surfaces, clean a private leisure boat, or clean the windows and walls of their homes.
A "hosepipe" means anything designed, adapted or used to serve the same purpose as a hosepipe. This means garden sprinklers and most irrigation systems, connected to the mains water supply, are all considered to be hosepipes, together with anything attached to them like pressure washers.
