Can you run an automatic watering system during the hosepipe ban?

Last Updated on 16th March 2012
Written By Clint

In most cases the answer is yes. New legislation was passed in April 2010 to bring hosepipe bans up to date. This has given water companies new discretionary powers to to grant exemptions from hosepipe bans. Many of the water companies have decided to use this discretion and make drip irrigation system exempt from April's temporary use ban

Drip irrigation is the one of the most sustainable and efficient forms of watering gardens. In fact tests have confirmed that it is over 90% more efficient than watering using a spray gun or a sprinkler. It is for this reason that drip irrigation is exempt from the UK hosepipe ban

So what is drip watering? In simple terms drip watering is a timed watering system that operates at less than one bar of pressure that disperses water 'drip by drip' on the surface of the soil with no surface run off.

We stock a number of drip irrigation products that are exempt from the hosepipe ban including the automatic Aquapod watering kits and the Hozelock automatic watering systems

Water Board Confirmation

We have contacted a number of water boards to find get their views on drip irrigation and the hosepipe ban.

Southern Water covering Kent, Sussex, Hampshire and Isle of Wight -'Under April's temporary ban drip irrigation systems are not restricted' 16/04/2012

East Anglian Water supply water to East Anglia and parts of the East Midlands - have confirmed that drip irrigation systems are exempt from the temporary hosepipe ban in April. For further exemptions and information on the hosepipe ban in this region visit their website

South East Water provide water to parts of Kent, Sussex, Hampshire, Surrey and Berkshire - 'Currently all drip irrigation systems are exempt from the impending hosepipe ban' 16/03/2012

Sutton and East Surrey - Sutton and East Surrey have advised that drip irrigation systems are not exempt from the hosepipe ban in their region. We have contacted them for confirmation

Thames Water region spans over London and the Thames Valley, parts of Gloucestershire, Kent and Essex - have confirmed that drip or trickle irrigation systems are exempt where a pressure regulating valve and timer is used. Any systems where water is dispersed through the air using a jet or mist will not be exempt

Veolia serving parts of North West London, Surrey, Beds, Bucks, Herts and Essex - until 23:59hrs on 4th July 2012: plants may be watered on domestic or other non-commercial premises using a fixed drip or trickle irrigation watering system, connected to a metered water supply, which is fitted with a pressure reducing valve and a timer and which places 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.