Bath And North East Somerset - Statutory Notice For Temporary Ban On Water Use

STATUTORY NOTICE FOR
TEMPORARY BAN ON WATER USE

Wessex Water Services Limited ("Wessex Water") gives notice that, pursuant to sections 76,76A, 76B and 76C of the Water Industry Act 1991 ("the Act") and The Water Use (Temporary Bans) Order 2010 ("the Order"), water supplied by Wessex Water is restricted across the whole of its water supply area, including those who use water we supply but who may be served by other companies such as water retailers.

Restrictions will start on the 18th of August 2026 at 00:01 hours and continue until further notification. The terms of the restrictions are that the use of a hosepipe, including using sprinklers, dripper hoses, automatic irrigation systems and similar devices, is prohibited for the following purposes:

Watering a garden using a hosepipe

Cleaning a private motor vehicle using a hosepipe

Watering plants on domestic or other non-commercial premises using a hosepipe

Cleaning a private leisure boat using a hosepipe

Filling or maintaining a domestic swimming pool or paddling pool 

Drawing water, using a hosepipe, for domestic recreational use

Filling or maintaining a domestic pond using a hosepipe

Filling or maintaining an ornamental fountain

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.

Notes:
Customers can still undertake the above activities (except filling or maintaining a domestic swimming pool or paddling pool and filling or maintaining an ornamental fountain) if they use mains water from a bucket or watering can (where this is feasible); or use water that is not sourced from the mains such as grey water, rainwater from a water butt through a hosepipe, or private boreholes.

The words used in this notice are further defined by reference to sections 76-76C of the Act, and in the Order additional information is available at: wessexwater.co.uk/ hosepipe-ban. 

The Order sets out statutory exceptions which apply to the restrictions additional information on these is available at: wessexwater.co.uk/hosepipe-ban.

Wessex Water has permitted certain discretionary universal exceptions which apply to certain users with additional medical or mobility needs and users adopting certain water saving measures which are set out in full in the additional information available at: wessexwater.co.uk/hosepipe-ban Customers may contact Wessex Water to seek agreement for a discretionary concessional exception.

Representations concerning any of these prohibitions may be made by writing to Wessex Water at: hosepipe.ban@wessexwater.co.uk 

If, as a result of any representation, Wessex Water decides to vary any terms of the prohibition, a further notice will be published. Subject to this, the prohibitions will have effect from the stated date and will remain in force until further notice. Any person who contravenes any of these prohibitions may be guilty of an offence, and liable, on summary conviction, to a fine not exceeding £1,000.