Hosepipe bans defied by one in 10 households as drought declared in half of England

One in ten households under hosepipe bans in England does not plan to follow the restrictions, a survey has found. The YouGov poll, commissioned by the Press Association, revealed that 11% of respondents would not fully comply with the bans, while 5% were unsure. The restrictions, imposed by seven water companies, affect 23 million customers across regions including the South East, Midlands and South West.

The survey also found that 10% of households would report a neighbour using a hosepipe during a ban, while 71% said they would not. Support for the bans is divided, with 49% of households in favour and 35% opposed. Some respondents argued that metered customers should be exempt, as they pay for their water use.

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Drought declared in seven regions

The Environment Agency declared drought in seven areas of central, eastern and southern England on 12 August 2022. The decision follows prolonged dry weather and record-high temperatures, which have left rivers and reservoirs at critically low levels. Only the North East and Yorkshire remain under normal conditions for this time of year.

Water companies have reported surges in demand, with some areas seeing usage rise by more than a third. Yorkshire Water recorded a 10% reduction in household consumption during a previous hosepipe ban, while Anglian Water reported a 9% drop since its restrictions began last month. The bans prohibit using hosepipes for cleaning cars, filling paddling pools or domestic swimming pools.

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Households are permitted to use watering cans and drip irrigation systems fitted with timers and pressure-reducing valves. Hosepipes may still be used to water food crops at home or on allotments if a watering can is impractical. The Environment Agency has urged residents to conserve water to protect rivers and wildlife.

“We are grateful to people for following the restrictions, where in place. The less water we use, the more stays in the local environment, which is vital for the health of our rivers and wildlife.”

Environment Agency spokeswoman

Water companies face criticism

Some households have criticised water companies for failing to invest in infrastructure, such as new reservoirs, while paying high salaries to executives. One respondent to the YouGov survey said, "I pay an extortionate amount for my water. It is not my problem that water companies would rather give their CEOs ridiculous amounts of money instead of building new reservoirs."

Mike Keil, chief executive of the Consumer Council for Water, acknowledged the frustration but stressed that water companies must also address leakage. "Water saving is a shared responsibility," he said. "When customers see their water company failing to get a grip on leakage, it understandably drains their own motivation to save water."

A Water UK spokeswoman said water companies were working to fix leaks and maintain supplies. "We urge all customers to use water wisely," she said. The Environment Agency has not indicated when the drought conditions may ease, leaving restrictions in place indefinitely.

What happens next

The hosepipe bans will remain in force until water companies determine that supplies have stabilised. The Environment Agency has not set a timeline for lifting the drought status, as it depends on rainfall and demand. Residents are advised to check their water company’s website for updates on restrictions and permitted water use.