We’re in a hosepipe ban area but my neighbour is constantly using his hose to fill up his children’s paddling pool.
I used mine to water the garden and he shouted over the fence that I shouldn’t be using it – but he was allowed to as he’s exempt. Surely that’s not right?
Sophie Warburton of This is Money replies: During periods of extreme weather, water companies can enforce a hosepipe ban to restrict usage and save supplies.
This means households are not allowed to use their hoses to water the garden, wash cars, clean windows or patios, fill swimming or paddling pools, or use jet washers.
Understandably, some people think this counterintuitive when there are plenty of leaks around the country that need fixing, and we are also being urged to stay hydrated and cool.
However, hosepipes are deemed less of an essential and still a large water drainer.
When left unattended or used to water bigger gardens, they can use up to 900 liters of water an hour, Anglian Water says.
Already, Anglian Water and South East Water have enforced hosepipe bans with Cambridge Water and Affinity Water to follow suit today.
Millions of people across the UK are under a hosepipe ban to save supplies
Customers in parts of Cambridgeshire, Essex, Norfolk, Suffolk, Lincolnshire, Kent, Southern Water for Hampshire, the Isle of Wight, Bedfordshire, Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Hertfordshire, Surrey, and London will be affected.
But there will be some people who can continue to use their hosepipes despite the blanket ban.
Who is exempt from a hosepipe ban?
Only a select number of households are exempt from the ban such as those on the Priority Services Register, on the WaterSure tariff and Blue Badge holders.
If your neighbour is elderly, has a medical condition or young children, as you mentioned, they might be on the PSR list and are entitled to water during interrupted times.
You can find out more about the PSR list and your eligibility by heading to Affinity Water’s website, scroll down on the hosepipe ban section to FAQs and click the link under ‘who is exempt’.
Meanwhile, WaterSure is scheme that helps you with paying your water bills.
Eligible people need to be on benefits and use a lot of water either for medical reasons or because their household has a certain number of school-age children.
They also need to be on a water meter or be waiting to have one installed.
Since you mentioned children and a paddling pool, this could again point to why they are exempt from the ban.
Blue Badge holders are also exempt because they usually have mobility issues, making manually filling water cans or buckets for car washing extremely challenging.
You can inform your water company of your blue badge holder status if this too applies to you.
What happens if I’m caught using my hosepipe?
If you are seen using your hosepipe, your water company will be the first to get in touch.
They’ll check whether you are aware of the ban and if you are exempt. Affinity Water says ‘we are not looking to catch people out’.
However, if the same person continues to use a hosepipe after being told they can’t, your water company will take further action.
In England and Wales, people can be fined up to £1,000 for using their hoses during a ban.
Can I use my exempt neighbour’s hosepipe?
If you’re not exempt from the ban, you cannot use your neighbour’s hosepipe.
The only person who can use your exempt neighbour’s hosepipe in their garden is their gardener.
On the other hand, if any of the following apply to you, you could use your hosepipe. If you have essential building activities going on like mixing cement, you can use a hosepipe.
Or, if you have newly laid turf you can use a hosepipe for up to 28 days after its been laid. Similarly, if you have newly sewn seed grass down, you can use a hosepipe for up to 28 days.
The Met Office has confirmed there is no sign of significant rainfall across parts of the UK in the next week.
The Met Office said: ‘The short answer is that for many areas, significant rainfall is not expected in the immediate future.
Adding: ‘For the next few days, high pressure is expected to remain close to the UK, meaning dry weather will continue for most areas.
‘The most likely chance of rain will be in the far south or south-west, where a few isolated showers are possible.
‘However, these are expected to be scattered and short-lived, with many places remaining dry.’
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