YORKSHIRE WATER has introduce a hosepipe ban from today (August 26) - and Ryedale and North Yorkshire are included.

The ban has been introduced after the county experienced one of the driest periods on record, with Yorkshire Water stating that since March there had been 34 per cent less rain than the long-term average.

Activities covered by the hosepipe ban include:  

  • Watering a garden using a hosepipe 
  • Cleaning vehicles or boats using a hosepipe 
  • Watering plants with a hosepipe 
  • Filling or maintaining a domestic swimming or paddling pool 
  • Drawing water, using a hosepipe, for domestic recreational use 
  • Cleaning walls or windows of domestic premises using a hosepipe 
  • Cleaning paths or patios using a hosepipe 
  • Cleaning other artificial outdoor surfaces using a hosepipe

Exemptions

These tasks can still be carried out using water from a bucket, watering can, or with water that is not sourced from mains such as grey water, rainwater from a water butt through a hosepipe, or private boreholes.

Businesses will be allowed to use a hosepipe if it is directly related to a commercial purpose, but there are restrictions on using a hosepipe if not for those essential commercial needs. 

For example, using a hosepipe to clean a path outside a business property would not be allowed.  

Blue badge holders, those on Yorkshire Water’s Priority Services register or WaterSure tariff for medical reasons, are also excluded from the ban.

When will it be lifted?

Yorkshire Water could not give a date for when the ban would be lifted, stating that significant rainfall would be needed first to allow reservoir levels to rise closer to normal.

Can I be fined for using a hosepipe? 

The water provider said that if they receive frequent reports of someone breaking the ban, they will firstly remind the person of their obligation.

Going beyond this, a spokesperson for Yorkshire Water said: “This is usually enough. However, if they continue to use a hosepipe then we are able to write further, visit, or they can be fined £1,000 (to the Treasury).”

Will Yorkshire Water have patrols out on the streets?

The spokesperson for Yorkshire Water added that their staff members are regularly out and about as part of their day jobs and may speak to members of the public if they see any breaches.

Will the police follow up on reports?

North Yorkshire Police has urged the public to not report breaches to the force.

A spokesperson for North Yorkshire Police said: “The hosepipe ban is a civil matter, not a criminal one, and should not be reported to the police.

“And crucially, every call made to the police about the hosepipe ban is diverting our call handlers away from dealing with real emergencies.”