Why hosepipes can be banned and what that means
The phrase 'hosepipe ban' is what you might sometimes hear being talked about when the weather is particularly warm and there hasn't been much rainfall. There may have even been a drought declared, although sometimes a hosepipe ban may be in place even if there has been some rain.
But what does it actually mean? Do you really get punished if you use hosepipe in the middle of a ban? And who even decides there is a ban in the first place?
Well don't worry, we've poured all the answers you're looking for right into this article right here. Wat-er relief!
1. So what actually is a hosepipe ban?
A hosepipe ban quite literally means a ban on using hosepipes.
It is something that is put in place by water companies when the demand for water is high or if supplies are lower than usual.
The official name for a hosepipe ban is TUBs! It stands for Temporary Use Ban and the rules for it our set out in the Water Industry Act 1991, Section 76. That sounds complicated but it really does just mean that people are not allowed to use hosepipes for a variety of functions…
2. What is against the rules during a hosepipe ban?
Well, there’s actually quite a few things you cannot do!
First up is one of the more obvious and probably what most of us might usually use a hosepipe for.
During a hosepipe ban you are not allowed to water your garden and plants using a hosepipe. The word garden encompasses all sorts of thing, including gardens open to the public, a grass verge, grass used for sports and any other green space. But it doesn’t include farm land or land used commercially for growing things. Temporary gardens and flower displays are also exempt, as well as plants that are in an outdoor pot.
Washing you car is also not permitted, as well as watering plants, filling up a paddling pool, swimming pool, pond or fountain, cleaning a boat or drawing water for “domestic recreational use”.
3. So how do I water plants in hot weather?
While you’re banned from using a hose connected to a tap that uses mains water, you can still fill up a watering can or bucket from your mains tap - like the one in your kitchen for example - to be able to water your garden.
You could also collect rainwater (if it does rain at all) in a water butt in your garden. If you have one of these already, it might even have some water in it!
4. Who decides if there is a hosepipe ban?
Water companies are the ones who decide if a hosepipe ban is needed or not.
Water companies source water from a variety of places including lakes, rivers, reservoirs, and underground sources like aquifers. The specific sources depend on the region and the company, but generally, they collect untreated water and then purify it for drinking. When the levels of water in these sources, like a reservoir, start to drop because of hot weather and lack of rainfall, the companies need to take action to make sure there is enough water to supply the area's drinking, hygiene and food preparation needs.
That means asking the public to restrict their unnecessary usage of water - like a hosepipe to water their garden, for example.
The procedure for announcing a ban is to tell residents in the area ahead of time by publishing details on its website AND in two local newspapers.
The latest ban in the UK was announced in July 2025 by Yorkshire Water. They said the ban would be in place until Yorkshire saw "significant rainfall", which would help reservoirs return to normal levels.
Before the latest ban announced by Yorkshire Water in 2025, the last hosepipe ban was put in place by South West Water in 2023.
5. What is the punishment?
So what happens if you do use a hosepipe during a ban?
Well, yes, there is actually a punishment. People found to be using a hosepipe during a ban can be fined up to £1,000.
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