Who is exempt from hosepipe bans in the South?

As the UK experiences one of its driest summers in living memory, millions of people in the south of England are currently living under hosepipe bans.

On Wednesday, the Environment Agency announced the Thames Valley, Wessex, and Hampshire and the Isle of Wight was experiencing a drought.

It comes after the Thames, Southern and South East water companies all implemented hosepipe bans for most of their customers across those arid regions.

Parts of Dorset are also affected by a localised South West Water ban, but this is impacting a far smaller number of people than the other three.

Under the water firms' rules, not everyone can expect a fine for using their hosepipes in areas where there is a ban, with exemptions existing for certain people, as well as businesses and sports clubs.

Most water companies' hosepipe bans apply very similar exemptions, with those suffering from medical or mobility problems universally exempt.

Businesses are also allowed to use hosepipes during the ban, but only as long as the water is being used directly for commercial purposes.

The bans are also not applied to any scenarios where a lack of use may pose a health and safety risk, or to prevent the spread of disease or invasive species.

The answer to this is that some water companies do, while others do not allow blanket exemptions for all blue badge holders.

Southern Water links exemptions to medical or mobility needs, meaning blue badge holders must apply, with their eligibility then assessed on an individual basis.

Meanwhile, all blue badge holders are exempt from Thames, South West and South East bans.

However, South East customers must apply for a blue badge exemption - while the relevant Thames and South West customers are automatically enrolled.

All water companies in the South say not all members of its Priority Service Register (PSR) are eligible for exemptions, but use slightly different wording to define their rules.

Thames Water says only those on its PSR with particular illnesses or medical conditions are able to use a hosepipe, while Southern applies this only to people on its list for "medical or mobility reasons".

South East says people registered on its PSR "who may find it hard to make adaptations" are exempt.

South West says its exemptions for PSR members only apply to those "unable to make reasonable adjustments due to a health condition or disability".

The firms all agree that sports pitches can be watered, but only if they are actively being played on.

This limits clubs to prevent them from watering a whole site, instead only allowing them to use a hose or sprinkler for health and safety reasons - for example, if the ground is dangerously hard to play on.

Although we would all love to take a dip in a paddling pool during this summer's sweltering heat, all of the water firms agree that they mostly cannot be filled using a hosepipe.

The consensus policy is that a pool can only be filled using a hosepipe if it is needed for medical or veterinary treatment, or as part of a religious ceremony.

Those lucky to have permanent swimming pools can also fill them if they are undergoing either construction or renovation work.

Here is somewhere the firms do vary, with Thames Water saying customers do not need to contact them to report neighbours using hosepipes.

Meanwhile, Southern has asked those who spot potential breaches of its ban to report it to the company, while South West says this should only happen after checking the list of potential exemptions.

South East follows the same advice, asking breaches to be reported - but with potential exemptions in mind.