Hosepipe Bans and What Do They Really Mean?

August 17, 2022

With drought conditions declared in parts of England, Thames Water is the latest water company to announce a hosepipe ban, with others expected to follow suit.


Hosepipe bans (Temporary Use Bans to use the formal name or “TUBs”) can be used by water companies to manage their supplies when there is high demand and low supply – so generally when it has been very dry and hot for a prolonged period, as at present.


This type of ban places restrictions on the domestic use of sprinklers and hosepipes. As the name suggests, if a ban is in place where you live, you can’t use a hosepipe for things like watering your garden, filling a paddling pool, or washing your car. 


There is no restriction on watering or washing, using a watering can or bucket. The reason hosepipes are targeted is because they can use over 500 litres an hour, which is greater than what an average household uses in a day.


The hosepipe ban includes public parks, allotments, and sports fields including golf courses and racetracks. Commercial activities are usually exempt but it is advisable to check with the water company for any specific measures. Those affected must remember that the ban remains effective as long as the water company has it in place, even if it is raining!

What many people may not realise is that hosepipe bans are just the first step in a water company’s response to managing drought conditions.


If the drought continues, and demand for water is not reduced sufficiently by the hosepipe ban, further actions can be taken. The next step would be a Non-Essential Use Ban (‘NEUB’), where the restrictions from a hosepipe ban are also applied to non-domestic customers. This can clearly have serious economic consequences for the businesses involved. If demand is still too high after that, the last step would be to introduce rota cuts, where supplies are turned off for several hours per day. Standpipes may also be used to further limit supplies but such measures would only occur in a very prolonged drought period.


Whether you are or will be affected by a hosepipe ban or not doesn’t matter. We all have a responsibility to use water wisely.



Envireau Water is an RSK Group Company.


Hosepipe Bans - What do they really mean?

Share

Hello to Team Scotland!

By Rachael Plant • May 7, 2025
At Envireau Water , all of our locations reflect a hub of innovation and expertise, and we thought it would be the perfect opportunity to reintroduce our friendly team, starting in Scotland! Having established our Scottish office almost 5 years ago, our team continues to flourish and reflect the growing demand for water resource consultancy throughout Scotland, particularly within the food and drink and minerals sector. Keep reading to find out more about our water experts! Chris Woodhouse : Principal Hydrogeologist Chris joined us in early 2021 and leads our team in Scotland. A Chartered Geologist and Fellow of the Institute of Quarrying, Chris has over 13 years of technical experience across a range of areas, from water supply development and dewatering assessments to effluent discharge and flood risk management. Chris oversees projects primarily in the minerals and quarrying and waste and distilling industries and also provides expertise on projects across the UK, primarily in the minerals and waste sectors.

Changes to flood risk guidance in Wales

By Rachael Plant • April 30, 2025
Understanding both current and future flood risk in Wales is essential for helping planners, developers and landowners understand how flood risk is assessed within the planning process, ensuring that new developments are resilient and sustainable. Originally published in 2004, the Welsh Government recently published a significantly revised Technical Advice Note (TAN) 15 on 31st March, detailing critical changes to flood risk guidance. What are the key updates? Development types: The classification of development types has been updated and expanded. Categories now include Highly Vulnerable, Less Vulnerable, and Water-Compatible developments. Examples of Highly Vulnerable uses include all residential buildings, hospitals, schools, and emergency services infrastructure. This classification determines where development may be acceptable depending on the level of flood risk.

Published in Rail Professional: Compliance in the Rail Sector

By Michael Underwood • April 28, 2025
Recently, we were thrilled to team up with Rail Professional to share our insights and expertise on this trade effluent compliance in the Rail Industry, featuring our very own, Michael Underwood! Michael is a Senior Hydrologist at Envireau Water, a specialist water management consultancy. As a Chartered Water and Environmental Manager (C.WEM), Michael has 10 years’ experience in flood risk management and drainage, surface water hydrology, drainage design and river management. He also serves on the committee of the Chartered Institute of Environmental Management (CIWEM) East Midlands Branch.
Show More

Hello to Team Scotland!

By Rachael Plant • May 7, 2025
At Envireau Water , all of our locations reflect a hub of innovation and expertise, and we thought it would be the perfect opportunity to reintroduce our friendly team, starting in Scotland! Having established our Scottish office almost 5 years ago, our team continues to flourish and reflect the growing demand for water resource consultancy throughout Scotland, particularly within the food and drink and minerals sector. Keep reading to find out more about our water experts! Chris Woodhouse : Principal Hydrogeologist Chris joined us in early 2021 and leads our team in Scotland. A Chartered Geologist and Fellow of the Institute of Quarrying, Chris has over 13 years of technical experience across a range of areas, from water supply development and dewatering assessments to effluent discharge and flood risk management. Chris oversees projects primarily in the minerals and quarrying and waste and distilling industries and also provides expertise on projects across the UK, primarily in the minerals and waste sectors.

Changes to flood risk guidance in Wales

By Rachael Plant • April 30, 2025
Understanding both current and future flood risk in Wales is essential for helping planners, developers and landowners understand how flood risk is assessed within the planning process, ensuring that new developments are resilient and sustainable. Originally published in 2004, the Welsh Government recently published a significantly revised Technical Advice Note (TAN) 15 on 31st March, detailing critical changes to flood risk guidance. What are the key updates? Development types: The classification of development types has been updated and expanded. Categories now include Highly Vulnerable, Less Vulnerable, and Water-Compatible developments. Examples of Highly Vulnerable uses include all residential buildings, hospitals, schools, and emergency services infrastructure. This classification determines where development may be acceptable depending on the level of flood risk.

Published in Rail Professional: Compliance in the Rail Sector

By Michael Underwood • April 28, 2025
Recently, we were thrilled to team up with Rail Professional to share our insights and expertise on this trade effluent compliance in the Rail Industry, featuring our very own, Michael Underwood! Michael is a Senior Hydrologist at Envireau Water, a specialist water management consultancy. As a Chartered Water and Environmental Manager (C.WEM), Michael has 10 years’ experience in flood risk management and drainage, surface water hydrology, drainage design and river management. He also serves on the committee of the Chartered Institute of Environmental Management (CIWEM) East Midlands Branch.

Recent Environment Agency Updates

By Rachael Plant • April 8, 2025
Since December 2024, the Environment Agency (EA) have released a series of flood and coastal erosion risk assessment updates, offering a clearer, more comprehensive picture of both current and future flood risk across England. What makes these updates so important? With approximately 6.3 million properties in England at risk of flooding and 3,500 properties at risk of coastal erosion by 2055, these updates are absolutely critical in order for you to protect and enhance your developments against the threat of climate change and extreme weather events. Whether a commercial or residential development, Envireau Water specialise in flood risk management and sustainable drainage solutions across the UK. By leveraging our technical expertise and deep knowledge of the UK regulatory system, we are known for achieving a positive outcome for even the most complex of challenges. Keep reading to find out what these updates mean for you.
Show More