How to (legally) get around a hosepipe ban
At the time of writing, customers of South East Water, Southern Water, Thames Water and Yorkshire Water are, or will soon be, placed under a hosepipe ban. Currently, only certain areas being served by these companies are affected.
If you're tempted to ignore the ban, be aware that you'll technically be breaking the law.
Gary Rycroft, consumer law expert and The Telegraph's Ask a Laywer columnist, says 'Hosepipe bans are legally enforceable in that water companies have statutory powers under the Water Industry Act 1991 and Flood and Water Management Act 2010 to impose fines on anyone acting in violation of a ban.'
If you're caught breaking the rules, it could cost you.
However, there are exemptions – more than you might think – and if just one of them applies to you, you can continue using your hosepipe or sprinkler as normal.
Here, Telegraph Money explains everything you need to know:
Which companies are banning the use of hosepipes?
Yorkshire Water – which also supplies households in parts of Lincolnshire and Derbyshire – kicked off its ban on July 11, while the South East Water ban came into force a week later on July 18, affecting households across Kent and Sussex.
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