As temperatures increase in the UK, many gardeners will be tackling drought in their gardens. The record-breaking temperatures of 2022 in the UK saw 40.2 degrees celsius recorded on 19 July 2022 at Heathrow, breaking the previous record of 38.7 degrees recorded in Cambridge in July 2019. It is yet to be seen if this year will be even hotter.
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Hosepipe ban
Is there a hosepipe ban in the UK?
There are currently no hosepipe bans in the UK, although the Environment Agency has warned that although we are facing a wet summer, there is set to be an increasing shortfall in water in years to come.
Hosepipe bans are due to a lack of rainfall and extreme temperatures, and aims to protect the river habitats that the water is extracted from. The use of hosepipes to water gardens, clean cars and fill pools will be restricted.
What is a hosepipe ban?
A hosepipe ban is a ban on using excessive water due to water shortage. Under the Flood and Water Management Act 2010, during a water shortage utility companies may prohibit the following uses of water:
- watering a garden using a hosepipe
- cleaning a private motor-vehicle using a hosepipe
- watering plants on domestic or other non-commercial premises using a hosepipe
- cleaning a private leisure boat using a hosepipe
- filling or maintaining a domestic swimming or paddling pool
- drawing water, using a hosepipe, for domestic recreational use
- filling or maintaining a domestic pond using a hosepipe
- filling or maintaining an ornamental fountain
- cleaning walls, or windows, of domestic premises using a hosepipe
- cleaning paths or patios using a hosepipe
- cleaning other artificial outdoor surfaces using a hosepipe
During a hosepipe ban you can still water your garden with the use of a watering can. If you break the rules of a ban though, you could face a hefty fine of up to £1000.
How much water does a hosepipe use?
Every ten minutes, the average hosepipe will use 170 litres of water. According to Southern Water, a sprinkler can use as much water in one hour as a family of four in a whole day. So even if there isn't a hosepipe ban, cutting down on automated watering systems in the garden can be a good idea and be better environmentally.
When was the last hosepipe ban in the UK?
As hosepipe bans are enforced by individual water companies, they often come into force in different parts of the country at different times. In the last few years, a notable ban was brought in in August 2018 by United Utilities which affected 7 million people in the North West of England. In 2022, water companies from Yorkshire to Wales imposed bans.
Other ways to water the garden
Watering the garden can be done using a watering can, especially if you have lots of things in pots. This means you can give specific plants the optimum amount of water instead of giving the garden a general soak. It's also a good idea to collect rain water in water butts. This saves on using mains water, it's good for the environment and plants often prefer rainwater.
Click here for more info on when to water plants in hot weather.
