Dry, hot weather with little rain can result in hosepipe bans being put in place across the UK.

While you’ll probably know what this means, it’s important to know the rules so you can follow them.

Here’s everything we know about what you can and can’t do during a hosepipe ban.

What are the hosepipe ban rules in the UK?

On the government website, the Environment Agency blog shares the activities that can be banned during a hosepipe ban, also known as a Temporary Use Ban (TUB).

These activities include using a hosepipe to:

  • Water a garden
  • Clean a private motor vehicle
  • Water plants on domestic or other non-commercial premises
  • Clean a private leisure boat
  • Fill or maintain a domestic swimming or paddling pool  
  • Draw water for domestic recreational use 
  • Fill or maintain a domestic pond with a hosepipe 
  • Fill or maintain an ornamental fountain

The website adds: “A ‘garden’ includes: a park; gardens open to the public; a lawn; a grass verge; an area of grass used for sport or recreation; an allotment garden; any area of an allotment used for non-commercial purposes; any other green space.

How to cope with hot weather


 “A garden does not include: agricultural land; land used commercially (i.e. for growing); a temporary garden or flower display; plants that are in an outdoor pot or in the ground, under cover.”

It's important to note that this is general UK advice and your local water company might enforce slightly different rules.

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Who can enforce hosepipe bans?

Water companies are the only ones with the power to introduce a hosepipe ban.

The government website explains: “ The company has to notify its customers ahead of a ban and will need to publish details on its website and in two newspapers that circulate in that area.

“A water company will have a drought plan that will outline how they implement TUBs.”