Yahoo News Where in the UK is there a hosepipe ban?
A hosepipe ban has been extended across a region in the UK.
A hosepipe ban is set to come in across Kent and Sussex due to record demand for drinking water, South East Water bosses said.
Areas of the region have been left with little or no water this week amid the hot weather, forcing schools to shut and residents to get drinking water from bottled water stations.
A plea to use only essential water has stretched from Haywards Heath in West Sussex to Whitstable in Kent.
The temporary ban on hosepipes and sprinklers will come in on June 26.
South East Water said despite providing an extra 120 million litres of water a day, demand in June has broken records, including from the COVID lockdown heatwave.
Last summer, a heatwave led to a drought in most of England, with a few areas still yet to recover.
On top of today's announcement Devon, Cornwall, and the Isles of Scilly still have some form of hosepipe ban in place.
David Hinton, South East Water's chief executive, said: "This situation has developed much more rapidly than last year. Understandably, we’ve seen customer demand increase in line with the hotter weather, however this has impacted our ability to keep all customers in supply at all times."
Several schools within South East Water's region have been forced to close due to lack of drinking water.
Mark Cross Church of England Primary School in Crowborough said it could not open to all year groups because of reduced sanitary facilities and no running water.
Where are the UK hosepipe bans?
South West Water and South East Water are the only regions that have hosepipe bans currently in place in the UK.
This covers all of Devon, Cornwall, Kent and Sussex.
What are the rules?
Under a hosepipe ban, using a hosepipe connected to a mains water supply is restricted, including "anything designed, adapted or used to serve the same purpose as a hosepipe", including sprinklers or an irrigation system.
The ban prevents customers from using hosepipes and sprinklers to water grass, clean their cars or fill pools.
However, you can use a hosepipe if it is not connected to a mains water supply – like a water butt.
South West Water has the following list of restrictions:
Watering a garden (this includes allotments)
Cleaning a private motor-vehicle (this includes taxis)
Watering plants on domestic or other non-commercial premises
Cleaning a private leisure boat
Filling or maintaining a domestic swimming or paddling pool (some exceptions below)
Drawing water, using a hosepipe, for domestic recreational use (this includes hot tubs)
Filling or maintaining a domestic pond (unless it has fish in it)
Filling or maintaining an ornamental fountain (unless its purpose is to keep fish healthy)
Cleaning walls, or windows, of domestic premises
Cleaning paths or patios
Cleaning other artificial outdoor surfaces
South East Water has the following restrictions:
The temporary restrictions will mean that you will not be able to use hosepipes for watering your gardens, washing cars, patios and boats and filling swimming and paddling pools. This will be enforced from 26 June. More information can be found here on their list of FAQs
Read more: What are the hosepipe ban exemptions in England?
How much is the fine for breaking the ban?
It is up to each water company to decide on what penalties to impose on customers who flout the hosepipe ban.
In each area, breaches will be investigated when reported and reviewed on a case-by-case basis.
South East Water says anyone who breaks the rules “may be liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding £1,000”.
