Yorkshire Water has announced that a hosepipe ban will come into effect from Friday 11th July, following the driest spring in over 130 years.
With reservoir levels not having risen since January and the region officially in drought, the Temporary Use Ban (TUB) aims to conserve water and protect future supply.
Who is affected?
Anyone who receives clean water services from Yorkshire Water is affected. The restrictions do not apply to customers who only receive wastewater services.
What’s banned:
Using a hosepipe for the following is not allowed:
- Watering gardens or outdoor plants
- Cleaning cars, boats, walls, windows, patios or paths
- Filling or topping up swimming pools, paddling pools, hot tubs or decorative fountains
What is still allowed:
- Using watering cans or buckets
- Using non-mains water (e.g. water butts, grey water, or private boreholes) via hosepipe
- Watering gardens with recycled water (e.g. bathwater or washing-up water)
Guidance for businesses:
If you’re a business owner, you may continue using a hosepipe only where it is essential to your day-to-day commercial operations. For example, a car wash or plant nursery can continue operations if hosepipes are directly tied to business needs.
However, using a hosepipe for non-essential tasks, such as cleaning external surfaces, is not permitted. Yorkshire Water encourages businesses to adopt water-efficient technologies wherever possible.
How long will the ban last?
There is no fixed end date. Restrictions will remain until Yorkshire receives enough rainfall to restore reservoir levels. Yorkshire Water will lift the ban as soon as it’s no longer necessary.
For water-saving tips and to apply for free water-saving devices, visit yorkshirewater.com/save.
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