This year we've experienced the driest spring since 1893, and the hottest summer on record. This, combined with record level demand for drinking water, left us with no choice but to restrict the use of hosepipes and sprinklers on 18 July.
The recent rainfall we’ve had has been very welcome, but unfortunately not nearly enough to replenish our water resources. While the hosepipe ban in Kent and Sussex has helped, our Sussex supply area is in drought with some resources at very low levels. This means we need to take further steps to protect supplies and the environment.
We’re updating the hosepipe restrictions for customers in Sussex from 17 October. All exemptions that were previously in place will be removed, except for ones that are for health and safety purposes.
If you live in Sussex and were previously exempt from the ban we put in place on 18 July, you will no longer be able to use your hosepipe.
I live in Sussex, how do I know if this affects me?
If you live in Sussex and are supplied by us, the updated restrictions apply to you. You should have received a letter or an email or letter from us explaining this. If you are still unsure, please use the postcode checker below to confirm what restrictions apply to you.
Check if you live in an area with a hosepipe ban
If you're unsure whether you live in an area with a hosepipe ban, or whether you are affected by the further restrictions in Sussex, pop your postcode into the form below.
Why is the hosepipe ban still in place?
The water resources we rely on to supply your drinking water are not always quick to react to rainfall, it can take months in some cases. While we’ve had some recent rainfall, it’s not been anywhere near enough to counteract the very dry year we’ve had.
With the ongoing dry weather and high temperatures we saw throughout summer, we all used far more water than usual at home, meaning that we pumped much more drinking water to customer taps than normal. Met Office reports show 2025 was the driest spring since 1893.
Demand for water increased to the highest levels we have ever seen, reaching 680 million litres on 30 June 2025. This is 105 million litres of water a day more than the average. On days like this, we pumped enough water to supply an additional 4 towns the size of Maidstone or Eastbourne.
We’ve tried everything possible to avoid these restrictions. Despite your help to save water, and our ongoing efforts to manage our water resources, including launching a comprehensive strategy to find and tackle leaks, our water sources are really low.
We need to keep the hosepipe ban in place as it is one of many measures we must take to preserve the water supply for customers.
Can't you just produce more water?
All water that we treat and pump to your taps comes from the environment. The amount of water we are allowed to take from all environmental sources is controlled by the Environment Agency. At the start of the year, our storage of raw (untreated) water was good.
However, demand from May onwards has seen our raw water levels fall faster and earlier than usual. They have now reached a point where levels are so low, they have triggered further levels in our Drought Plan, and on 22 September we were granted a Drought Permit for Ardingly reservoir. This allows us to reduce the amount we release from the reservoir into the Shell Brook (the stream) and refill it earlier from the Upper Ouse, if river flows are high enough.
The river flows have not been high enough so far, and the reduction has not been enough to stop the reservoir levels decreasing, which is why we need to take further measures to preserve Ardingly water levels.
What does the hosepipe ban mean?
The temporary restrictions mean that you cannot use hosepipes for watering your gardens, washing cars, windows and patios, or filling swimming and paddling pools.
When will this start?
We announced the restrictions on this website and in the local press in the week commencing 14 July. This was enforceable from 18 July and will be in place until further notice.
On 10 October we announced further restrictions will apply to our customers in Sussex, with the lifting of previous exemptions from the ban. If you live in Sussex or would like more information on these further restrictions, visit here.
When will restrictions be lifted?
We will continue to monitor the situation and will lift the restrictions when we’re satisfied that both customer demand and water supply levels are restored to a point where they are not breaching our Drought Plan.
Simple changes to save water
There are lots of simple changes you can make to help save water, from making sure you're washing a full load to reusing your cooking water to water your plants.
What does the Temporary Use Ban (TUB) actually mean?
Simply, while the Temporary Use Ban (TUB), or hosepipe ban, is in place you must not use a hosepipe that is connected to your mains water supply.
The definition of a hosepipe is set out in the legislation, which allows us to introduce this ban.
A “hosepipe” means anything designed, adapted or used to serve the same purpose as a hosepipe. This means garden sprinklers and most irrigation systems connected to the mains water supply are all considered to be hosepipes, together with anything attached to them like pressure washers.
There are some pre-approved exemptions for certain people or activities – meaning hosepipes can be used in specific circumstances.
You can only use a hosepipe when:
- It is required for unavoidable health and safety reasons, such as removing or minimising any risk to human or animal health or safety or preventing or controlling the spread of causative agents or disease.
- The welfare and/or health and safety of animals (including fish) would otherwise be affected.
- It is not connected to mains water, such as using a water butt or other recycled water system.
- You are unable to, or may find it hard to, make adaptations and are registered with our Priority Services Register. You can find out more information about this and sign up at www.southeastwater.co.uk/psr.
Customers do not need to apply for an exemption. However, we may question your use of an exemption if we receive reports of hosepipe usage.
Prosecution is a last resort for us, but anyone who doesn’t follow the Temporary Use Ban may be fined, on conviction, up to £1,000.
Whilst the Temporary Use Ban is in place, you must not
Water a garden using a hosepipe
A “garden” is a private or public garden, a lawn, a park; a grass verge; an area of grass used for sport or recreation; an allotment used for non-commercial purposes; and any other green space.
A garden is not:
- agricultural land,
- land used in the course of a business for growing any crops, fruits, vegetables or other plants for sale or commercial use;
- land used for National Plant Collection;
- a temporary garden or flower display (i.e. on show to the public for no more than 7 days); or
- Plants that are either in the ground or in a pot and are under cover (under cover being in a greenhouse, outbuilding or a permanent canopy).
Exemptions - you may use a hosepipe to water your garden if:
- using a hosepipe to water an area of grass or outdoor artificial surfaces used for sport or recreation (on the active strip/ playing area only – not the whole grounds) when undertaken outside of daily peak hours that occur 8am to 10am and 5pm to 9pm.
- drip or trickle irrigation watering systems, fitted with a pressure reducing valve and a timer, that are not handheld, that place water drip by drip directly onto the soil surface or beneath the soil surface, without any surface run off or dispersion of water through the air using a jet or mist; a fixed watering system; use of watering cans and not hoses
- watering of new lawns at domestic premises, where this cannot reasonably be undertaken with a watering can and the turf was laid before the on set of the ban, for a period of 4 weeks after being laid and when undertaken outside of daily peak hours that occur 8am to 10am and 5pm to 9pm.
- Watering trees, whips, saplings and hedging planted before the ban, in the last three years, where this cannot be reasonably done by way of a watering can.
- Water food crops at domestic premises or private allotments, where this cannot be reasonably done by watering can.
Clean a private motor-vehicle (or a trailer for such a vehicle) using a hosepipe
You must not use a hosepipe for cleaning a private car, van, trailer or any other motor vehicle.
Exemptions - you may use a hosepipe to clean a motor-vehicle if:
- the cleaning is done as a service to customers in the course of a business or to clean public service or goods vehicles
- Private motor vehicle does not mean taxis or goods vehicles or commercial vehicles
Water plants on domestic or other non-commercial premises using a hosepipe
You must not use a hosepipe to water plants in your home or garden or any other non-commercial premises.
Exemptions - you may use a hosepipe to water plants if:
- you are watering plants (crops, vegetables or fruit) that are grown or kept for sale or commercial use, National Plant Collections or temporary garden or flower displays;
- you are using drip or trickle irrigation watering systems, fitted with a pressure-reducing valve and a timer, that are not handheld, that place water drip by drip directly onto the soil surface or beneath the soil surface, without any surface runoff or dispersion of water through the air using a jet or mist; a fixed watering system; use of watering cans and not hoses
Clean a private leisure boat using a hosepipe
You must not use a hosepipe to clean a private leisure boat.
Exemptions - you may use a hosepipe to clean a private boat if:
- this is done as a service to customers in the course of a business or to clean public service or goods vehicles
- this will not apply to the inside of your boat.
Fill or maintain a domestic swimming or paddling pool (including constructed and non-inflatable hot tubs)
You must not use a hosepipe to maintain or fill any domestic swimming or paddling pool.
Exemptions - you may use a hosepipe to fill or maintain a swimming or paddling pool if:
- you do this with a water conservation recycling system or hand held container
- you are filling a permanent swimming pool or hot tub for the first time
- you are filling or maintaining a permanent swimming pool where necessary in the course of its construction or where it is designed, constructed or adapted for use in the course of medical treatment
- the pool is within places of worship or community pools and when they are used as part of a religious ceremony.
Draw water, using a hosepipe, for domestic recreational use (such as hot tubs of all kinds and inflatable paddling pools)
You must not use a hosepipe to draw water for domestic recreational use.
No exemptions
Fill or maintain a domestic pond (manmade or natural) using a hosepipe
You must not use a hosepipe to fill or maintain a domestic pond.
Exemptions - you may use a hosepipe to fill or maintain a pond if:
- it is for the welfare of the fish or aquatic animals in the pond
Fill or maintain an ornamental fountain (including a cascade or any other display of moving water, and includes filling by permanent plumbing)
You must not use a hosepipe to fill or maintain a water fountain.
Exemptions - you may use a hosepipe to fill or maintain a water fountain if:
- it is used as part of recognised religious practices
Clean walls, or windows, of domestic premises, using a hosepipe
You must not use a hosepipe to clean the walls or windows of a domestic property.
Exemptions - you may use a hosepipe to clean walls or windows of a domestic property if:
- This is done as a service to customers in the course of a business or to clean public service or goods vehicles
Clean paths or patios using a hosepipe
You must not use a hosepipe to clean paths or patios.
Exemptions - you may use a hosepipe to clean paths or patios if:
- This is done as a service to customers in the course of a business or to clean public service or goods vehicles
Clean other artificial outdoor surfaces using a hosepipe
You must not use a hosepipe to clean artificial outdoor surfaces.
Exemptions - you may use a hosepipe to clean artificial outdoor surfaces if:
- This is done as a service to customers in the course of a business or to clean public service or goods vehicles
Report a misuse
The current restrictions are for household customers only and do not include business use. Examples of misuse would include someone using a hosepipe to water their garden or to wash their car.
If you want to report someone using their hosepipe or sprinkler please use the form here.
Please note there are genuine exemptions from the restrictions and some customers do have permission to still use their hosepipe or sprinkler.
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