Where are hosepipe bans – and is my small business exempt?

Hosepipe bans have been introduced in Sussex and Kent as the UK’s hot weather continues.

South East Water has issued a ban on sprinklers and hosepipes from 26 June.

There’s also a hosepipe ban in Cornwall and Devon, according to South West Water.

Small business owners may be wondering how the hosepipe ban will impact their business. Read on to find out more about the regulations, hosepipe ban areas, and if the temporary ban includes commercial use.

When is the hosepipe ban?

Also known as a temporary use ban (TUB), the first hosepipe bans came in on 26 June for Sussex and Kent.

Cornwall and parts of North Devon have had a hosepipe ban in place since August 2022. And South West Water extended the ban to other parts of Devon from 26 April 2023.

Is there a hosepipe ban in my area?

The hosepipe ban is enforced differently across the country, and the rules and restrictions can vary. If you’re not sure about anything then it’s best to contact your water company.

You can use a postcode checker to see how your area is affected:

• South East Water
• South West Water

This comes after a relatively dry sping, according to the Met Office.

There aren’t currently any hosepipe bans in these areas, but keep an eye out over the summer if anything changes.

• Welsh Water
• Yorkshire Water
• Thames Water

Is my business exempt from the hosepipe ban?

The temporary restrictions stop people from using a hosepipe to water gardens and plants, clean cars, wash windows, and fill paddling pools.

Not following the rules can lead to a fine of up to £1,000.

Fortunately, the ban only applies to domestic use, so businesses using water for commercial reasons are exempt from the restrictions.

If you use a hosepipe as part of your business services to customers then you’re still allowed to use it, even during the temporary use ban.

Hosepipe ban exemptions

You can use a hosepipe if you’re:

• watering a garden or land that’s used by a business for growing any crops, fruits, vegetables, or other plants for sale or commercial use
• providing cleaning as a service to customers, including cleaning private leisure boats, windows, paths, and patios
• washing taxis, goods vehicles, or commercial vehicles
• filling or maintaining a water fountain if it’s used for recognised religious practices
• filling or maintaining a domestic pond when it’s for the welfare of the fish or aquatic animals in the pond
• cleaning other artificial outdoor surfaces – if it’s part of a service to customers

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Have you been affected by the UK hosepipe ban? Let us know in the comments.

Photograph: Kzenon/stock.adobe.com