Water companies ban hosepipes

4 water companies in the South will ban the use of hosepipes, as the region struggles to cope with a prolonged drought. Southern Water, Thames Water, South East Water and Veolia South East will fine customers £1000 if they are caught;

• watering a ‘garden’ using a hosepipe;
• cleaning a private motor-vehicle using a hosepipe;
• watering plants using a hosepipe;
• cleaning a private leisure boat using a hosepipe;

• filling or maintaining a domestic swimming or paddling pool;
• 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.