Multiple Surrey towns now have a ban in place
Multiple towns in Surrey now have hosepipe bans in place(Image: Getty Images)
Hosepipe bans are currently in place, or soon to be coming into force, across a number of Surrey towns following weeks of record-breaking temperatures in the county.
Surrey has four major water companies that supply over a million residents with water. Affinity Water has had restrictions on how you can use its water since Friday, July 10 while South East Water has recently announced a ban for the first time in 14 years, which will begin on July 25.
Fellow Surrey-based water companies Thames Water and SES Water are yet to follow suit, but they have both issued updates on the situation to customers.
Restrictions are currently in place for all areas under South East Water and Affinity Water’s jurisdiction. This area stretches from Cambridgeshire in the north and Essex in the east, down to Hampshire and the south coast and notably Surrey.
A number of GU, KT and TW postcodes in Surrey are currently included in the ban. These postcodes centre around the towns of Woking, Chertsey and Staines for Affinity and Farnham, Bordon, Godalming and Ash for South East Water.
This all comes off the back of the hottest June on record in the UK. Surrey was among the places to top the records and the Met Office has now said this has been the first year of all time that 35C-plus heats have been recorded in May, June and July.
The large majority of the county is yet to come under any sort of hosepipe ban this summer. In Sutton and East Surrey, SES Water have already said they do not expect to need to implement one at all this year.
For Guildford, Camberley, Weybridge and beyond, the prospect of a ban is something which Thames Water has not ruled out entirely. The water company told SurreyLive on Monday afternoon (July 20) that it is encouraging customers to use water wisely, particularly outdoors, but has not put a hosepipe ban in place.
Two water companies currently have hosepipe bans in place in Surrey(Image: Yui Mok/PA Wire)
What rules are in place during the ban?
For areas in and around Woking, Chertsey and Staines, Affinity Water has put restrictions in place on where and how you can use your water. The company is telling customers that it is monitoring the situation daily and will lift restrictions “as soon as conditions allow us to balance water sustainably across the network”.
Currently, Surrey residents who are customers of Affinity Water are not allowed to do the following with hosepipes:
Watering gardensWashing carsCleaning windows and patiosFilling swimming and paddling poolsUsing jet washers
For South East Water customers, the following restrictions will come into place on Friday, July 25:
Watering a garden using a hosepipeCleaning a private motor-vehicle (or a trailer for such a vehicle) using a hosepipeWatering plants on domestic or other non-commercial premises using a hosepipeCleaning a private leisure boat using a hosepipeFilling or maintaining a domestic swimming or paddling poolDrawing water, using a hosepipe, for domestic recreational use (such as hot tubs)Filling or maintaining a domestic pond (manmade or natural) using a hosepipeFilling or maintaining an ornamental fountain (including a cascade or any other display of moving water, and includes filling by permanent plumbing)Cleaning walls, or windows, of domestic premises using a hosepipeCleaning paths or patios using a hosepipeCleaning other artificial outdoor surfaces using a hosepipeWho is exempt from the ban?
For Affinity Water, customers who are on the Priority Services Register (PSR), on the WaterSure tariff or are a Blue Badge holder can still use their hosepipe if they’re unable to make reasonable adjustments, the company has said. Suggesting such adjustments could be using a watering can.
South East Water provides the same exemptions but has told customers that it will review each customer’s situation on a case-by-case basis.
Should you report on neighbours for ignoring the hosepipe ban?
As part of the Water Use (Temporary Bans) Order 2010, if a customer does not adhere to the ban it is an offence that could lead to a fine of up to £1,000 if they are convicted.
For South East Water, it has said it will be mainly relying on the goodwill of customers to follow the restrictions. The company currently has a separate ban in place in Kent in which they are encouraging the public to report offenders.
However as the ban in Surrey and Hampshire is yet to be implemented, there is not an online reporting tool for these areas yet.
Affinity Water has not issued any specific advice on whether you should report neighbours who appear to be ignoring the ban. The company said it may take further action if the same person continues to use a hosepipe after being made aware, but it will not be looking to catch people out.