Further hosepipe bans announced in England

Both South East Water and Thames Water will shortly introduce hosepipe bans, not long after Yorkshire Water brought in the first widespread ban of the year.

South East Water’s ban will begin tomorrow (18 July) and will last until customer demand and water supply have returned to acceptable levels. However, it will only apply to Kent and Sussex, with customers in parts of Surrey, Hampshire, and Berkshire excluded for the time being.

Thames Water’s ban will come into force next week (22 July) and will only end when water levels allow. Like the South East Water ban, this ban will only apply to certain customers, specifically those in:

• All OX postcodes
• All GL postcodes
• All SN postcodes
• RG4, RG8, and RG9 postcodes

Impact on landscaping

In England and Wales, the power to introduce a hosepipe ban is given to water companies in Section 36 of the Flood and Water Management Act 2010 and elaborated on in the Water Use (Temporary Bans) Order 2010.

Broadly, these laws allow water companies to ban various domestic uses of a hosepipe, with specific exemptions for commercial and other non-domestic uses.

However, they also provide a degree of flexibility and are somewhat open to interpretation, so it is always worth contacting the relevant water company if you are unsure on the legality of a specific use.

Both South East Water and Thames Water have published useful FAQ pages on their websites, addressing the most common scenarios for landscapers and clients.

For instance, the South East Water FAQ says landscapers can use a hosepipe to water new turf in domestic settings but only:

• Where this cannot be reasonably be undertaken with a watering can, and
• The turf was laid before the start of the ban, and
• Within four weeks of the turf being laid, and
• Outside of peak hours which are 9am to 10am and 5pm to 9pm

The Thames Water FAQ is less prescriptive, simply saying landscapers can use a hosepipe to water newly laid or sown lawns and new planting for the first 28 days.

If you need further clarity on what will and will not be permitted under the bans, please contact either South East Water or Thames Water directly.

Looking ahead

BALI will continue to monitor developments and communicate any further droughts and hosepipe bans to members and, in turn, their clients.

Meanwhile, our policy team is renewing efforts to secure greater flexibility for landscaping under hosepipe bans as well as a more consistent approach across water companies.

BALI has previously discussed the benefits of sustainable garden design, rainwater harvesting systems, and water solutions more broadly.