Frequently Asked Questions

A Temporary Use Ban (TUB) or as it’s more commonly known a ‘hosepipe ban’ means you won’t be allowed to use a hosepipe to undertake certain activities around the property. We know hosepipe bans can be inconvenient, and this is not a decision we have taken lightly but we are taking these steps now to make sure we have enough water to see us through to the end of the Summer and into the Autumn.

Under the TUB restrictions, the use of a hosepipe, including using sprinklers, dripper hoses, automatic irrigation systems and similar devices, not allowed for the following activities:

• 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, paddling pool or hot tub
• 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

As a business, you will be allowed to use a hosepipe if it is directly for commercial purposes, or if it is necessary for health and safety. Non-essential use (such as cleaning a path outside the front of your commercial property) is not allowed.

A 'garden' includes:

• a park
• any gardens open to the public
• a lawn
• a grass verge
• an area of grass used for sport or recreation
• an allotment garden
• any area of an allotment used for non-commercial purposes
• any other green space

A 'garden' does not include:

• agricultural land
• land used commercially (i.e. for growing)
• a temporary garden or flower display
• plants that are in an outdoor pot or in the ground, under cover

If you are on a water meter and use less water than you normally do, then it should be reflected in your business’ bills. If you pay a fixed charge for a year, that doesn't change no matter how much water you use or don't use. Our business customers won't be getting a discount because of a hosepipe ban.

You could be fined up to £1,000, although we hope that this won’t be necessary if everyone works together to save water.

If you use water in large quantities for your business, for example if you use a hosepipe for essential cleaning, it is likely your business will be exempt from the ban. Examples of these include car washing businesses and window cleaners. If you’re concerned about whether your business is exempt from the hosepipe ban, please get in touch through our website – dwrcymru.com/drought.

Yes. If your hosepipe is connected to something other than the mains supply, such as a private supply, e.g. a borehole, then you can still use it.

For full details about what is and isn’t included in the hosepipe ban please read our public notice which can be found on our website – dwrcymru.com/drought.

If your circumstances are listed in the current exemptions, you do not need to do anything.

If after reading this notice you wish to apply for an exemption from these water restrictions due to a requirement not currently outlined in the exceptions, please email us at: water.resources@dwrcymru.com.

The ban will usually last until water resources are replenished – which could be from a large amount of rain, or from reduced water demand.

We will do everything we can to avoid this situation and stricter restrictions than ever before mean standpipes are unlikely.