Outdoor water-use restriction

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An outdoor water-use restriction is a ban or other lesser restrictions put into effect that restricts the outdoor use of water supplies. Often called a watering ban or hosepipe ban,[1] it can affect:

Such bans may be put in place by local governments, or by a state government.[2] In the latter case, local authorities often still can enact more restrictive measures.

Such a ban is usually enacted during droughts, to preserve water for essential uses such as drinking and flushing toilets, as well as for firefighting. If there is a water main break, or a problem with a water tower or other reservoir, a ban may be enacted on a very local and temporary basis. Bans that control water and plant uses can be permanent. Greywater recycling is becoming a necessity due to shortages in freshwater supply, an increase in populations with its associated food supply, and economic development.[citation needed]


Typical restrictions include:

  • the "odd/even" system, whereby odd-numbered addresses water on odd-numbered dates, and even-numbered ones on even-numbered dates
  • There are also day-based restrictions where water use is restricted to specific days of the week
  • time restrictions based on the hour of the day. Usage may be prohibited from noon or late morning until late afternoon or evening. This is the time of day, when much of the spray is lost to evaporation.

The use of drip irrigation systems may or may not be exempt from the restrictions, or be less restricted than normal water sprinklers.

Businesses that use water as a critical part of their operations are usually not exempt. This includes car washes, plant nurseries, and other landscaping companies. A typical restriction on a car wash would be to recycle the water.

Abuse of restrictions usually brings a warning at first, then a fine, and can lead to the cutoff of the water to the home or business. Enforcement is generally by the local water authority or even from police.

Non-potable water usage[edit]

Using native vegetation, such as xeriscaping in desert locations, avoids having to water in the first place. Using greywater or stored runoff from a roof gutter downspout is also an alternative for trees and shrubs, but not for large expanses of grass, which would be difficult to cover. Australian researchers have concluded that there is little evidence for spreading of disease through greywater used in landscaping and that greywater should be applied below the soil surface and not directly on top.[citation needed]



Water restrictions are in place in many regions and cities of Australia in response to chronic shortages resulting from drought. Depending upon the location, these can include restrictions on watering lawns, using sprinkler systems, washing vehicles, hosing in paved areas and refilling swimming pools, among others. Water restrictions in Australia are enforced by fines and for repeat offenders by reducing water supply.

United Kingdom[edit]

A hosepipe ban is a British term for a water restriction placed on the customers of a water company to prevent them from using garden hoses, particularly for watering their gardens. The provider sometimes states that their customers are not allowed to use a sprinkler or unattended hosepipe for a few days (or longer), though commonly a total ban is enacted. Bans are usually only seen in England and South Wales, but rarely in Scotland due to the damper climate. Commercial customers are usually exempt in order to prevent loss of earnings or other such problems.[3]


Contravening a temporary water restriction is a criminal offence in the United Kingdom under the Water Industry Act 1991 (though the first prosecution for "wasteful use of water" was in 1921[4] and resulted in a fine of 20 shillings). Although offenders are usually warned, they are liable upon conviction to a fine not exceeding £1,000 under the terms of the Act.


  1. ^ Water company may impose hosepipe ban - http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/cumbria/10394098.stm
  2. ^ Know your limits on outdoor water use - http://www.insidehalton.com/opinion/columns/article/831892--know-your-limits-on-outdoor-water-use
  3. ^ How are commercial gardeners affected by a hosepipe ban? - http://www.hosepipeban.org.uk/how-are-commercial-gardeners-affected-by-a-hosepipe-ban/
  4. ^ Vanessa Taylor and Frank Trentmann (July 2008). "Hosepipes, history and a sustainable future". History & Policy. United Kingdom: History & Policy. Retrieved 9 December 2010. 


  • O’Connor, G. A., and H. A. Elliott, and R. K. Bastian. “Degraded Water Reuse: An Overview.” Journal of Environmental Quality 37 (2008): A157-S168
  • Thompson, William J. “Reuse Greywater.” Sustainable Landscape Construction: A Guide to Green Building Outdoors. Washington: Island Press, 2008

External links[edit]