What we're doing
The hosepipe restrictions that have been in place since 18 July have certain exemptions (when using a hosepipe is allowed to be used), such as for watering new lawns or tree saplings.
We are removing all exemptions, except for the ones that are for health and safety purposes. This means for purposes where there is a danger to a person or animal's welfare or life.
Why are we doing this?
Some of our water resources in Sussex are in drought and we need to take further steps to protect supplies and the environment. Water resources are not quick to react to rainfall, it can take months in some cases. While we’ve had some recent rainfall, it’s not been anywhere near enough to counteract the very dry year we’ve experienced.
What this means for you
If you live in Sussex and we previously wrote to you to say you were exempt from the hosepipe restrictions because you are on our Priority Services Register, this will end and you will no longer be able to use your hosepipe.
If you were not exempt but activities you were doing were covered by an exemption, this will now also end.
There are some circumstances where a hosepipe is needed for health and safety purposes. Only these will be allowed.
We understand you may have some questions about this, and how this might affect you due to additional needs.
What actions are we taking against the drought?
Drought applications
We have recently been granted a drought permit for Ardingly reservoir. The permit allows us to reduce the amount we release from the reservoir into the Shell Brook (the stream) and refill it earlier from the Upper Ouse, if river flows are high enough. The river flows have not been high enough so far, and the reduction has not been enough to stop the reservoir levels decreasing.
So, on 10 October we applied for a Drought Order on the River Ouse. If granted, it will mean we can reduce the amount of water we need to leave in the Lower Ouse, the part of the river below the point we take water from to treat and pump to your taps. We have worked closely with Defra, the Environment Agency and Natural England on the application and it will be seen by the Secretary of State for the Environment to make a decision on the granting of it.
Operational changes
We’ve fast-tracked several projects to:
- make sure water can move more easily around our network
- take the pressure off existing supply sources
- transfer more water into Sussex
For example, a new pipeline connecting treated water from Bewl in Kent to the East Sussex network will soon be active. This will move water between the counties for the first time, giving us greater resilience and flexibility and allows us to move water from areas with a good supply to those that need it more.
Tackling leakage
We are making Sussex our priority. Between April and 24 September, we repaired 2,354 leaks in the region, which is 14 per cent more than last year. We’ve also increased our staff to the highest number ever to find and fix leaks, and we’re now fixing them 21 per cent quicker than we were last year.
When did this start?
We announced the restrictions on this website and in the local press in the week commencing 14 July. This was enforceable from 18 July and will be in place until further notice.
On 10 October we announced further restrictions will apply to our customers in Sussex, with the lifting of previous exemptions from the ban.
When will restrictions be lifted?
We will continue to monitor the situation and will lift the restrictions when we’re satisfied that both customer demand and water supply levels are restored to a point where they are not breaching our Drought Plan.
What does the TUB actually mean?
Simply, while the Temporary Use Ban (TUB), or hosepipe ban, is in place you must not use a hosepipe that is connected to your mains water supply.
The definition of a hosepipe is set out in the legislation, which allows us to introduce this ban.
A “hosepipe” means anything designed, adapted or used to serve the same purpose as a hosepipe. This means garden sprinklers and most irrigation systems connected to the mains water supply are all considered to be hosepipes, together with anything attached to them like pressure washers.
There were some pre-approved exemptions for certain people or activities – meaning hosepipes could be used in specific circumstances, however due to the drought, these exemptions no longer apply to our customers in Sussex, unless there are health and safety issues.
You can only use a hosepipe when:
- It is required for unavoidable health and safety reasons, such as removing or minimising any risk to human or animal health or safety or preventing or controlling the spread of causative agents or disease.
- The welfare and/or health and safety of animals (including fish) would otherwise be affected.
- It is not connected to mains water, such as using a water butt or other recycled water system.
If you were previously exempt to the restrictions due to being on our Priority Services Register, or a registered Blue Badge holder, these exemptions no longer apply. You must not continue to use your hosepipe unless it is covered by the above.
Prosecution is a last resort for us, but anyone who doesn’t follow the Temporary Use Ban may be fined, on conviction, up to £1,000.
Whilst the Temporary Use Ban is in place, you must not
Water a garden using a hosepipe
A “garden” is a private or public garden, a lawn, a park; a grass verge; an area of grass used for sport or recreation; an allotment used for non-commercial purposes; and any other green space.
A garden is not:
- agricultural land,
- land used in the course of a business for growing any crops, fruits, vegetables or other plants for sale or commercial use;
- land used for National Plant Collection;
- a temporary garden or flower display (i.e. on show to the public for no more than 7 days); or
- Plants that are either in the ground or in a pot and are under cover (under cover being in a greenhouse, outbuilding or a permanent canopy).
Exemptions - you may use a hosepipe to water your garden if:
- using a hosepipe to water an area of grass or outdoor artificial surfaces used for sport or recreation (on the active strip/ playing area only – not the whole grounds) when undertaken outside of daily peak hours that occur 8am to 10am and 5pm to 9pm.
- drip or trickle irrigation watering systems, fitted with a pressure reducing valve and a timer, that are not handheld, that place water drip by drip directly onto the soil surface or beneath the soil surface, without any surface run off or dispersion of water through the air using a jet or mist; a fixed watering system; use of watering cans and not hoses.
Clean a private motor-vehicle (or a trailer for such a vehicle) using a hosepipe
You must not use a hosepipe for cleaning a private car, van, trailer or any other motor vehicle.
Exemptions - THERE ARE NO LONGER EXEMPTIONS FOR CLEANING A PRIVATE MOTOR-VEHICLE FOR OUR CUSTOMERS IN SUSSEX
Water plants on domestic or other non-commercial premises using a hosepipe
You must not use a hosepipe to water plants in your home or garden or any other non-commercial premises.
Exemptions - you may use a hosepipe to water plants if:
- you are watering plants (crops, vegetables or fruit) that are grown or kept for sale or commercial use, National Plant Collections or temporary garden or flower displays;
- you are using drip or trickle irrigation watering systems, fitted with a pressure-reducing valve and a timer, that are not handheld, that place water drip by drip directly onto the soil surface or beneath the soil surface, without any surface runoff or dispersion of water through the air using a jet or mist; a fixed watering system; use of watering cans and not hoses.
Clean a private leisure boat using a hosepipe
You must not use a hosepipe to clean a private leisure boat.
Exemptions - THERE ARE NO LONGER EXEMPTIONS FOR CLEANING A PRIVATE LEISURE BOAT FOR OUR CUSTOMERS IN SUSSEX
Fill or maintain a domestic swimming or paddling pool (including constructed and non-inflatable hot tubs)
You must not use a hosepipe to maintain or fill any domestic swimming or paddling pool.
Exemptions - you may use a hosepipe to fill or maintain a swimming or paddling pool if:
- you do this with a water conservation recycling system or hand held container
- you are filling or maintaining a permanent swimming pool where necessary in the course of its construction or where it is designed, constructed or adapted for use in the course of medical treatment
- the pool is within places of worship or community pools and when they are used as part of a religious ceremony.
Draw water, using a hosepipe, for domestic recreational use (such as hot tubs of all kinds and inflatable paddling pools)
You must not use a hosepipe to draw water for domestic recreational use.
No exemptions
Fill or maintain a domestic pond (manmade or natural) using a hosepipe
You must not use a hosepipe to fill or maintain a domestic pond.
Exemptions - you may use a hosepipe to fill or maintain a pond if:
- it is for the welfare of the fish or aquatic animals in the pond.
Fill or maintain an ornamental fountain (including a cascade or any other display of moving water, and includes filling by permanent plumbing)
You must not use a hosepipe to fill or maintain a water fountain.
Exemptions - you may use a hosepipe to fill or maintain a water fountain if:
- it is used as part of recognised religious practices.
Clean walls, or windows, of domestic premises, using a hosepipe
You must not use a hosepipe to clean the walls or windows of a domestic property.
Exemptions - you may use a hosepipe to clean walls or windows of a domestic property if:
- This is done as a service to customers in the course of a business or to clean public service or goods vehicles.
Clean paths or patios using a hosepipe
You must not use a hosepipe to clean paths or patios.
Exemptions - you may use a hosepipe to clean paths or patios if:
- This is done as a service to customers in the course of a business or to clean public service or goods vehicles.
Clean other artificial outdoor surfaces using a hosepipe
You must not use a hosepipe to clean artificial outdoor surfaces.
Exemptions - you may use a hosepipe to clean artificial outdoor surfaces if:
- This is done as a service to customers in the course of a business or to clean public service or goods vehicles.
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