NOSY neighbours have been warned not to report people who defy the hosepipe ban to the police.
has put a in place from today, July 12, whilst has announced that a ban will come into force on July 18.
The southern water company said that demand for drinking water has reached “record levels”; due to the extended dry spell.
Residents in these regions will not be permitted to useto water their gardens, wash their or for any other purpose while the ban is in effect.
Anyone found flouting these restrictions could receive a fine of up to £1000.
Do not call 999
However, has urged people not to call 999 if they see someone using their hosepipe.
The police warned that this is because this could prevent officers from dealing with a “real emergency”;.
The ban will affect five million people, and has been put in place due to the region experiencing its driest and warmest period on record.
Only 15cm of rain was recorded between February and June, less than half of what would be expected in an average year.
Dave Kaye, director of water at Yorkshire Water, revealed the restrictions are “intended to make sure we have enough supply for the essential needs of people across the region this year and next as well as making sure we are able to protect our local environment”;.
Yorkshire Water said that if it is repeatedly told about people disobeying the ban, it will “remind them of their obligations”;.
However, if they continue to flout the ban, the firm said it could take enforcement action.
Exemption from the ban
Businesses will still be permitted to use a hosepipe if it relates to commercial purposes.
Blue badge holders and people onpriority services register will also be exempt from the restrictions.
Restrictions are set to stay in place until the region has seen somebut the ban could last until winter.It comes as Yorkshire reservoirs reached 55.8 per cent, 26.1 per cent lower than usual for this time of year.
A spokesperson for South East Water told Kent Online of its ban: “This situation has left South East Water with no choice but to restrict the use of hosepipes and sprinklers in both counties, affecting around 1.4 million customers.
“In recent weeks, demand for water has increased to the highest levels ever seen for this time of year, reaching 680 million litres on 30 June 2025.
“This is 105 million litres of water a day more than the average for .”;
When did the UK last have a hosepipe ban?
Back in June 2023, South East Water implemented a hosepipe ban that affected parts ofand.
The ban was lifted in July, after a rainy period of weather.
In 2022, five water companies imposed hosepipe bans on a total of 19 million people, after a long period of hot weather.
The longest hosepipe ban in the UK was in 1976, when restrictions where in place for 98 days, from June to October.
An exceptionally hot summer led to extreme drought which affected most of southern.
