Can You Still Water Your Garden In A Hosepipe Ban?

So far, 2026 has seen an extraordinary number of heatwaves throughout the UK, with five tracked from May to August and a sixth predicted to arrive in early September. As a consequence many watering companies have imposed hosepipe bans or ‘Temporary Use Bans’  to ensure that we can conserve vital drinking water supplies, protect local river and groundwater environments and manage the increased demand which results during hot, dry weather. 

This means the question on everyone’s mind is ‘can I still water my garden during a hosepipe ban?’. So to help answer this question and ensure your plants remain hydrated and healthy we have put together a comprehensive guide on how you can care for your garden when you can’t use a hosepipe to water your plants. Let’s take a look at what you can and can’t do to ensure your plants survive when a hosepipe ban is in place.  

Make Sure You Follow The Rules

When a hosepipe ban is in place, it’s important to check the specific restrictions that apply in your area and make sure you comply with them. Using a hosepipe to water your garden, wash your car or top up an ornamental pond during an official hosepipe ban may constitute an offence under Section 76 of the Water Industry Act 1991, and you could face a fine of up to £1,000.

As hosepipe bans can be introduced, changed or lifted at short notice, it’s important to check the latest restrictions that apply in your area. The easiest way to do this is by visiting your local water company’s website.

Not sure which water company supplies your area? You can use the Water UK Postcode Checker to find out which company covers your postcode.

It’s also worth remembering that different water companies may have different rules, restrictions and exemptions. So, rather than relying on advice from friends or neighbours, always check the official guidance for your area. After all, if you inadvertently break the rules, you could be the one facing the fine!

What Does A Hosepipe Ban Actually Mean?

Whilst every water company will have their own rules to be followed, they are all based around the same basic principles, which we have listed for you below:

When a Temporary Use Ban (TUB) or Hosepipe Ban is in place, you are restricted from high-volume, non-essential outdoor mains water usage. So, for gardeners, this means you cannot attach a hosepipe to your mains water and use it to water your garden, lawn, allotment, or any other domestic green spaces. 

In addition, you can’t use a hosepipe connected to your mains water to clean your car or other vehicles, as well as paths or patios, walls or windows. 

You also can’t connect your hosepipe to your outside tap and then go on to fill or top up paddling pools, domestic swimming pools or hot tubs or to fill ornamental fountains or ornamental garden ponds. However, you may top up your garden pond if it contains fish or other aquatic animals.

With each watering company able to set their own precise conditions during a hosepipe ban, it is wise to check the exact rules covering your area. 

Now that we know what you can’t do during a hosepipe ban, let’s take a look at the options available to you to keep your plants hydrated without using a hosepipe or mains water. 

Can I Water My Plants During A Hosepipe Ban?

Although you are restricted from using a hosepipe to water your garden, there are lots of other ways to keep your plants healthy and hydrated. From something as simple as using a watering can, through to using an automatic drip watering system installed in your garden that incorporates a pressure reducer and timer to efficiently drip water onto or underneath the surface of the soil. 

That’s why it’s essential to always have a watering can to hand, so that when a hosepipe ban is put in place, you always have at least that simple way to transfer water to your plants. However, we always recommend that, whether or not there is a hosepipe ban in place, if you want to deliver water effectively and efficiently, you install an automatic irrigation system. Not only can it be used when a ban is in place, but it also means you can set your garden to be watered whether you are at home or not, set it to deliver water to your plants at the best time of day, and you can depend on it to keep your plants hydrated even when you are away on holiday. 

However, before you fill your watering can or turn on your drip irrigation system, always double-check the restrictions set by your water company, as rules can change and we don’t want you to be caught out! 

Can I Use A Watering Can During A Hosepipe Ban?

You can still use a watering can during a hosepipe ban. As it delivers a limited amount of water at a time, it encourages you to water more selectively, focusing on the plants that need it most rather than using water unnecessarily.

Watering cans usually hold 5 to 10 litres and can be filled from an indoor or outdoor tap or a water butt. You can also use ‘grey water’ (recycled bath or shower water, etc.) to water ornamental plants in your garden. Water companies allow you to continue to use a watering can as they use much less water than a hosepipe, which can use around 1,000 litres of water every hour - the same as filling a 10 litre watering can 100 times in an hour and then carrying it around to your plants! Which you are extremely unlikely to do, which makes them an efficient way to water your plants when a hosepipe ban is in place. 

However, in terms of time and energy spent watering your plants, there are much more efficient methods which you can use when a hosepipe ban is in place. 

Does A Hosepipe Ban Include Watering Systems?

Whilst a hosepipe ban does forbid you from using automated sprinklers and standard garden watering systems that are connected to your mains supply, usually drip or trickle irrigation systems are allowed to be used as long as they comply with all of the following conditions: 

The irrigation system includes a pressure reducer, which limits the water flow and prevents high-pressure bursts, so water isn’t spraying into the air or wasting mains water through runoff. 

You can find all our pressure reducers by clicking here:

The irrigation system is fitted with a programmable water timer, which controls and limits how long the water runs, reducing the risk of leaving it running by mistake. 

You can find all our water timers by clicking here:

The irrigation system must be fitted with drippers, as these ensure that the water is directed to the soil or roots of the plants rather than sprayers or misters, which would disperse water into the air, with lots of moisture being lost to evaporation. Using a drip irrigation system of this type is likely to use up to 90% less water than using a hosepipe.

The irrigation system must be fixed in place or buried under the soil, not a hand-held system. A hand-held drip system connected to your mains water via a hosepipe cannot be used, as it would be classed as using a hosepipe, which is not allowed. However, a fixed system would include a timer and a pressure reducer to control the water supply rather than relying on an individual.  

You can find all our drip irrigation systems by clicking here:

Can You Use A Soaker Hose During A Hosepipe Ban?

You cannot use a soaker hose connected to your mains water supply during a hosepipe ban, as it would be connected via a hosepipe, which isn’t allowed. However, some water companies allow soaker hoses if they are fitted with both a pressure reducer and a water timer. In this way, the flow of water is strictly controlled, with water slowly seeping from the hose onto the ground surface or below, allowing it to reach the plant roots rather than being lost to evaporation, runoff, or pooling. Because it is controlled by a timer and pressure regulator, it cannot be left running for long periods, which helps prevent flooding. 

You can find all our soaker hoses by clicking here:

When considering using a soaker hose during a hosepipe ban, you must check that the water company covering your area allows this type of system to be used, as not all do. 

Helping You Keep Your Plants Thriving 

We hope you have found our guide helpful and that it will make it easy for you to continue to keep your plants thriving if there is a hosepipe ban in your area. 

Don’t forget, just because we are now seeing rain doesn’t automatically mean that hosepipe bans cease, as a few days of rain does not instantly reverse severe drought and depleted groundwater. We now need months of consistent, heavy rainfall to replace the water lost throughout the heatwaves. This is why many water companies are saying hosepipe bans are unlikely to be lifted until the end of the year. 

With months of hosepipe bans still in place in many areas, let's all be mindful of water use so we can keep our plants thriving and return our gardens to the lush, green spaces that are so relaxing. This means watering early in the morning when the least water is lost to evaporation, deep watering so that water is directed straight to the plant's roots rather than wetting the foliage and being wasted. And as you plan ahead and think about what you’ll be adding to your garden and growing next year, consider how drought-tolerant your choices are, and combine this with planning an efficient watering system to ensure your plants thrive no matter what the weather brings.

Happy Efficient Watering! 🪴