Hosepipe ban rules and exemptions
A hosepipe ban is a legal restriction on using a hosepipe for certain purposes, introduced by a water company under drought legislation. In England and Wales it is officially called a Temporary Use Ban (TUB). The exact wording of each ban follows the supplier’s published notice, so the list below is a general guide rather than a substitute for your water company’s rules.
Restrictions apply to anything connected to the mains water supply, not just the hose itself. Using a watering can, a bucket or a rain-collected water butt is not normally restricted.
What a Temporary Use Ban usually restricts
Most bans restrict watering a garden or lawn with a hosepipe, cleaning vehicles, filling pools and paddling pools, and using a hosepipe-connected pressure washer. Watering established gardens, filling ponds, and cleaning paths or patios are commonly limited when the water comes from the mains.
- garden, lawn and plant watering with a hosepipe
- cleaning a private motor vehicle with a hosepipe
- filling or maintaining a domestic swimming or paddling pool
- cleaning windows, paths or patios with a pressure washer or hosepipe
- filling a pond or garden fountain from the mains
What is usually still allowed
Watering cans, buckets and water-butts are normally allowed, because the restriction is on the hosepipe and mains-fed equipment. Most bans also allow cleaning where there is a health, safety or animal-welfare need, and watering of certain commercial crops.
- watering with a watering can or bucket
- using stored rainwater from a water butt
- watering new plants or turf where the supplier’s notice allows it
- cleaning needed for health, safety or animal welfare
- commercial watering of food crops where the notice grants an exemption
Why rules vary between suppliers
Each water company publishes its own notice with its own scope, start date and exemptions. Otter checks the current official status and links to the exact supplier notice, because the wording is not identical across England and Wales.
Specific hosepipe ban questions
Check the exact notice for your supplier. Each ban has its own scope, dates and exemptions — see the current status per water company or check by postcode for your area.