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Here's everything we know so far
Droughts have been declared in parts of southwest, southern and central England and all of eastern England as Britain continues to experience sweltering heatwaves. But will there be a hosepipe ban? And what exactly does a hosepipe ban mean?
Keep reading for everything you need to know about hosepipe bans, including fines for breaking the ban and tips on how to save water...
During water shortages or heatwaves, hosepipe bans can be put in place to control how much households use. While it can often be tempting to use hosepipes to water plants, bans can be implemented when water companies deem their area to be in a drought.
Thames Water is planning to bring in restrictions on water for its 15 million customers in the next few weeks, the BBC has announced. This comes after two water companies in the UK have announced bans to stop reservoirs running dry.
Southern Water have announced a temporary use ban which will come into force for around 1.5 million people in parts of Hampshire and the Isle of Wight from Friday 5th August. There is now a hosepipe ban on the Isle of Man, meaning locals in the area could be fined for using their hose outside.
South East Water has just confirmed there will be a temporary hosepipe ban for households in Sussex and Kent after being left with "no choice". Starting on Friday 12th August, people won't be able to use sprinklers or hosepipes amid hot and dry weather conditions. Anyone who flouts the rules could be prosecuted or fined up to £1,000.
A statement on the South East Water website said: "This has been a time of extreme weather conditions across the UK. Official figures show this is the driest July on record since 1935 and the period between November 2021 and July 2022 has been the driest eight-month stint since 1976.
"During July in the South East, we have only seen 8% of average rainfall for the month, and the long term forecast for August and September is for similar weather."
Southern Water insist there is no direct risk to customers' water supplies but have asked them to "act responsibly" with water use when it comes to paddling pools etc.
MORE INFO FROM SOUTHERN WATER
The ban means any households caught using a hosepipe for the following measures face criminal prosecution:
There are currently no hosepipe bans in any other parts in the UK, although many water companies are now asking customers to be careful with how they use water. This includes cutting back on using hosepipes in the garden and washing cars (updated 2nd August 2022). Keep reading for tips on how you can cleverly save water in your garden.
Designed to reduce the level of water consumption to winter levels, a hosepipe ban is a restriction on outdoor water usage during hot summer months when supply is low. Ordered by regional government, this means that households cannot use their hosepipe or sprinklers and could risk facing a hefty fine if they do. You can still use water outdoors if you use a watering can or bucket.
During a hosepipe ban, you are not allowed to:
If you break the rules of a hosepipe ban, you can be prosecuted in a criminal court and fined up to £1,000, under the Water Industry Act 1991 section 76, as amended by the Flood and Water Management Act 2010.
According to Home X, you may require a hose licence for soaker hoses. A licence or additional payment is usually required for sprinklers and other watering systems, but it is worth doing your research first.
We should all be using water wisely, which includes not using hosepipes, taking showers rather than baths and turning off any garden sprinklers. Hosepipes might seem like an easy way to keep your plants hydrated, but watering the garden with a hose pipe uses 1,000 litres of water an hour — using a whopping six litres per minute.
The last official hosepipe ban in the UK was in 2018, starting on 5th August. Before that, there had been a ban in 2012. While the country is basking in scorching temperatures, experts say we are unlikely to see another hosepipe ban in 2022.
Don't fear a hosepipe ban: ditching the hosepipe can save water, time and still give you healthy-looking plants. Need some inspiration? Easy alternatives to help reduce your water intake include:
1. Installing a water butt to collect rainwater. Find a suitable location next to a downpipe and place your water butt on the stand. You can then use this water for your plants, washing the car or cleaning your patio.
2. Mulching your borders using bark or grass clippings. Cleverly, this will help the soil retain moisture, limit the amount of evaporation and keep roots moist.
3. Saving water from the kitchen of bathroom. Instead of tipping away the water from your washing up, why not save it to water your plants? As long as it doesn't include any grease or bleach, your flowers will thank you for it. The same goes for a bath; once you've finished relaxing, tip this over your borders.
4. Avoid watering during the heat of the day, as it will simply evaporate. The best time to water your garden is once the sun has set.
An inflatable tent can make your life easier, and this one does just that during the set-up process. It's quite large, so you'll need three people to pitch it, but our testers found this quick and easy to do. Putting it away was another kettle of fish, and they struggled to get it back in the bag, but once successful, they liked that they could carry it around like a backpack.
Its separate sleep pod and large porch area provided plenty of space, the windows let in natural light and the hook for hanging a torch proved handy.
This tent was so easy to pitch that our tester didn't have to consult the instructions and got it done alone. They were impressed with the poles and pegs' quality, too, with the poles almost slotting themselves together.
Once pitched, the tent's size was slightly disappointing, and the family of four felt a little squished. If it isn't raining, however, you can use the porch flap to add some more space. It's perfect for shorter stays and avoiding the faff involved in pitching a more complex tent.
If you're in the market for something a little special, this tipi-style tent will tickle you pink. Its design lends it a glamping feel as well as making it easier to pitch, since it only requires one connecting pole. Our tester's children loved the removable top, which is intended for air circulation but doubles as a stargazing window.
This tent felt very spacious, with a good standing height, but this did make it quite heavy to carry. Another snag was having to zip in the ground sheet, which came separately to the rest of the tent. Still, all of that feels like a small price to pay for a beautiful, high-performing tent.
No prior camping experience is required to put this tent into action. With clear instructions, colour-coded poles and pre-attached guide ropes, two people were able to pitch it in hardly any time at all. The inner pod was really easy to fit, too.
Inside, there wasn't enough height to comfortably stand, but it otherwise felt spacious. Expect ample room for two people in each pod, plus some storage space in the middle. Comfort-wise, it felt light and airy, and our testers liked that the door doubled as a shade. It's great value for just over £90.
This tent did a great job of protecting our testers from the elements; not only did it keep them warm on a cold night, but it also came with cross-bracing straps that stopped the tent from bending in the wind. You can unclip said straps to free up more space, but there's plenty – two queen-sized bedrooms, a living area and storage pockets.
The instructions were mostly clear, though they didn't mention the front porch feature, and our testers pitched up with little difficulty. They did advise being careful with the poles, which felt like they could snap if handled with too much force. The pros far outweighed the cons here, though – this is a lightweight, spacious tent that's also made from recycled plastic for eco credentials.
Decathlon's highly rated inflatable two-bedroom tent for a family of four is spacious, portable and easy to set up. It's designed for those who like plenty of room, with blackout technology to keep the two bedrooms cool and dark. The sleeping areas frame the living room, which is large enough for a person to stand up.
The waterproof tent boasts a zip-in ground sheet, too. Happy campers say it's "well worth the money" and "kids love it".
For super-fast pitching, a strong structure and full stand-up head height, look no further than Vango's Odyssey Air 600 SC. The six-person family tent comes with a pre-attached sun canopy and one of its best features is its pitching speed that means less time setting up and more time enjoying your camping holiday.
Helping you to feel at home, this tent offers full mesh doors, lantern hanging loops, storage pockets and large 'Diamond Clear' windows so you can take in the lovely views outside.
This double skin design is one of the best family tents available, sleeping two to four campers comfortably for 3 season camping. Satisfied users have said it's "easy to assemble," "lightweight" and "good for short, family camping trips". Meanwhile, one camper added that they're beginners to camping and managed to get it up in 20 minutes.
The family tent features a communal area, two double bedrooms and a sunshade entrance. We like the 3000mm Hydrostatic Head for rain protection and bedrooms with sewn-in groundsheets and privacy doors.
One of Amazon's best-selling dome tents is a family-sized style that offers 360-degree views from the six windows. It's sturdy and easy to pitch thanks to the colour-coded poles.
The family tent comes as one extra large room with a removable partition curtain so you can separate it into two areas if you wish. It's 100% waterproof thanks to Coleman's Weather Tec system combined with taped seams and a fully sewn-in groundsheet to keep you dry.
With enough room for seven people, this family tent from Outwell has three bedrooms with large windows, a generous living space that's great for large families and there's quick and quiet access between the outer and inner zones.
A rain-safe canopy over the side door gives easy, flexible access, while the rear ventilation system adjusts air flow from fully open to zip-sealed.
Small families will love Vango's Tryfan 300, which has an extremely roomy internal space and good head height. It offers plenty of air ventilation, with two extra large side vents and mesh door options.
The family tent pitches inner first and can be pitched inner only for when it's especially hot. A canopy provides additional space and shelter, and if the weather's bad, the vents can be securely closed using the zip panels, keeping you and your gear dry.
Sleeping up to six glampers, this family tent features pre-angled FRP poles ensuring full headroom throughout. The yurt-style tent offers all the size and freedom friends need, while allowing you to connect with nature and share the outdoor fun.
There are PVC windows for internal light, toggle-up curtains for privacy and a wide, fold-flat entrance. A covered rear vent provides ample ventilation and easily adjustable fresh airflow.
Made for large families of eight, this tent is very easy to set up and dismantle, with four bedrooms, a mosquito net window and storage pockets in the living room and bedrooms.
It's ideal if you want less heat and light in your tent, so you can decide when to wake up. One happy camper says: "Went up very well with simple easy to follow instructions, stayed in place during 40mph winds overnight."
An inflatable tent designed fit for four campers wanting maximum comfort, this family tent features one bedroom and a spacious living room.
The fabric reduces heat inside the tent in the sun and the black fabric means the sun won't wake you up in the morning if you're spending the night outside. One happy customer says: "I’m blown away by how easy and quickly a tent this size goes up and down. It’s very spacious inside and the blackout bedroom is a great addition."
Looking for a tipi that fits more than just two? This one from Robens will sleep six of you and features zip-close gussets on each side of the door which, when undone, allow the whole front to be opened using poles converted from the door’s A-frame. Cool, right?
This reveals the inside and creates a shaded living space where you can socialise and enjoy the views out on sunny days. The Bedouin-style family tent is especially appreciated in hot climes so if you're after something you can take abroad too, it's worth checking out.
This large family tent for four has an extended open front porch area offering more living space with protection from the elements during the great British summer. The front porch can be closed off for extra weather protection, too. The tent offers great head height throughout and a lightweight package, as well as several large windows for plenty of light.
The two bedrooms are extra-large and comfortably fit larger airbeds, while the BlackOut Bedroom technology blocks daylight and reduces the temperature during the day. You'll also find zipped window shades on the windows, ensuring flexible levels of privacy. The zipped cable entry points allowing access for powered accessories and multiple lantern attachment points are particularly handy.