Periods of hot, dry weather can place significant pressure on the UK’s water supplies, leading water companies to introduce temporary restrictions on hosepipe use. These restrictions are formally called Temporary Use Bans.
The rules can be particularly important for people with disabilities or mobility conditions who may be unable to carry buckets or use watering cans. However, holding a Blue Badge does not create one universal exemption that applies across every part of the UK.
Quick Answer:
Blue Badge holders may be exempt from a hosepipe ban, but the position depends on the water company and the wording of its current Temporary Use Ban.
Some suppliers provide an automatic exemption to eligible disabled customers. Others require the customer to be registered on the Priority Services Register and unable to make a reasonable adjustment, such as using a bucket or watering can instead of a hosepipe.
For example, under South East Water’s 2026 Kent restrictions, customers on its Priority Services Register who cannot reasonably adapt their water use are automatically exempt and should receive confirmation from the company.
Customers should therefore check their supplier’s latest restrictions rather than assuming that a Blue Badge alone permits every use of a hosepipe.
Key Takeaways:
- There is no single Blue Badge exemption covering every UK water company.
- Some exemptions are automatic, while others depend on Priority Services Register status.
- An exemption may apply only when the customer cannot safely use an alternative.
- The permitted activities vary between suppliers and individual bans.
- Customers should retain any email or letter confirming their exemption.
- Even exempt customers are normally encouraged to avoid unnecessary water use.
What Is a Hosepipe Ban?
A hosepipe ban is a temporary restriction introduced by a water company when it is experiencing, or expects to experience, a serious shortage of water. Its formal name is a Temporary Use Ban, commonly shortened to TUB.
Temporary Use Bans are permitted under Section 76 of the Water Industry Act 1991, with the categories of water use covered further defined by the Water Use (Temporary Bans) Order 2010.
Depending on the notice issued by the supplier, prohibited activities can include:
- Watering a garden or lawn using a hosepipe
- Washing a private vehicle using a hosepipe
- Cleaning patios, paths or other outdoor surfaces
- Filling or maintaining domestic swimming and paddling pools
- Cleaning a private leisure boat
- Operating a sprinkler connected to the mains supply
- Using a pressure washer connected to the mains supply
The restriction normally concerns water supplied through a hosepipe or similar equipment. Customers may still be able to use a bucket or watering can, while a hose connected only to collected rainwater or recycled greywater may be permitted. The exact definitions and exceptions should be checked in the supplier’s published notice.
A new Temporary Use Ban for South East Water customers in Kent was announced on 25 June 2026 and becomes enforceable from 00:01 on 3 July 2026.
It restricts activities including garden watering, private car washing and filling swimming or paddling pools with a hosepipe.
Are Blue Badge Holders Automatically Exempt From a Hosepipe Ban?
Not in every case. A Blue Badge is evidence of a qualifying disability or mobility condition, but hosepipe-ban exemptions are determined by the water company responsible for the affected area.
Some water companies identify Blue Badge holders as an exempt group. Other suppliers base the exemption on Priority Services Register classifications and whether the customer can reasonably use another method, such as a bucket or watering can.
Therefore, customers should not assume that displaying or owning a Blue Badge automatically permits unrestricted hosepipe use.
They should check:
- Which company supplies drinking water to the property
- Whether a Temporary Use Ban currently applies to the postcode
- Whether the supplier provides an automatic or conditional exemption
- Which activities the exemption covers
- Whether written confirmation is required
How Do Exemption Rules Differ Between Water Companies?
The following examples demonstrate why customers must check the current rules issued by their own supplier.
| Water company | Published treatment of disabled customers | What the customer should do |
| South East Water | Under its 2026 Kent ban, customers on the Priority Services Register who cannot make reasonable adjustments receive an automatic exemption. | Check for the exemption email or letter and contact the company if confirmation has not arrived. |
| Southern Water | Its published drought planning information identifies Blue Badge holders among customers who may receive automatic exemptions. Restrictions and permitted activities should still be checked against the notice in force at the time. | Read the current restriction notice before using a hosepipe. |
| Yorkshire Water | During its 2025 restriction, Blue Badge holders, qualifying Priority Services Register customers and WaterSure customers with medical needs were excluded. Yorkshire Water currently states that no ban is in place in Yorkshire. | Recheck the supplier’s website if a new ban is announced. |
| Other suppliers | Eligibility may be based on disability, medical need, Priority Services Register status or an individual assessment. | Contact the supplier instead of relying on another company’s policy. |
South East Water’s current guidance says an eligible customer must be on its Priority Services Register and unable to make adjustments under the restriction. The exemption applies at the customer’s domestic property and at an allotment for which the person is the registered tenant.
Yorkshire Water excluded Blue Badge holders and certain vulnerable customers from its 2025 restrictions, but its current information states that there is no hosepipe ban in place in Yorkshire.
Does an Exemption Allow Every Type of Hosepipe Use?
No. An exemption should not be treated as unrestricted permission to use mains water for any purpose.
The activities covered depend on the supplier’s notice. An exemption intended to help someone water a domestic garden because they cannot carry a watering can may not automatically permit private car washing, patio cleaning, ornamental pond filling or other non-essential activities.
Some uses may be separately allowed for unavoidable health and safety reasons, animal welfare, commercial activity or the use of recycled water. These are activity-based exemptions and should not be confused with a general disability exemption.
Before using a hosepipe, the customer should confirm both their eligibility and the particular activity that is permitted.
How Can a Blue Badge Holder Confirm an Exemption?
A Blue Badge holder can take the following steps:
- Identify the company that supplies drinking water to the property.
- Open the supplier’s current Temporary Use Ban or hosepipe-restriction notice.
- Read the section covering disability, mobility and Priority Services Register exemptions.
- Register for priority services when required.
- Contact the supplier if the exemption is unclear or no confirmation has been received.
- Keep any email, letter or account notification confirming the exemption.
South East Water says qualifying customers under its 2026 Kent restrictions should receive an email or letter. A customer who has not received confirmation can contact the company to check their status.
Medical situations not covered by the standard Priority Services Register criteria may be considered separately. South East Water, for instance, says some individual medical requests may require supporting evidence from a doctor.
What Is the Priority Services Register?
The Priority Services Register is a free service through which water companies record customers who may need additional assistance because of disability, illness, age, restricted mobility or another vulnerable circumstance.
Support may include accessible communications, assistance during supply interruptions and information about emergency water arrangements.
During a Temporary Use Ban, some companies also use Priority Services Register classifications to identify customers who cannot reasonably use alternatives to a hosepipe.
Registration does not necessarily give every customer a blanket hosepipe exemption. Eligibility still depends on the individual supplier’s current notice and the customer’s circumstances.
Is WaterSure the Same as a Hosepipe-Ban Exemption?
No. WaterSure is primarily a bill-support scheme for eligible metered households that need to use a high amount of water.
A water company may include qualifying WaterSure customers within the exemptions for a particular Temporary Use Ban, but WaterSure membership should not automatically be described as a nationwide exemption. Customers must check the wording used by their supplier.
What Happens If Someone Breaks a Hosepipe Ban?
Using a hosepipe for a prohibited activity without a valid exemption is an offence. A person convicted of breaching a Temporary Use Ban can face a fine of up to £1,000.
Water companies generally seek customer cooperation first, and prosecution may be treated as a last resort. Nevertheless, a customer who believes they are exempt should obtain confirmation rather than waiting until their water use is questioned.
How Can Exempt Customers Reduce Their Water Use?
Customers who qualify for an exemption are still encouraged to conserve water wherever reasonably possible.
Practical measures include:
- Watering plants during cooler parts of the day
- Directing water towards plant roots rather than lawns or paths
- Collecting rainwater in a water butt
- Using greywater where it is safe and suitable
- Repairing leaking taps, pipes and outdoor connections
- Using mulch to reduce moisture loss from soil
- Avoiding private vehicle washing unless it is genuinely necessary
- Using approved drip or trickle irrigation equipment where permitted
South East Water allows hoses connected to rainwater or another recycled-water storage system under its current Kent rules. It also identifies qualifying drip or trickle irrigation systems as an efficient alternative where the required conditions are met.
Conclusion
Blue Badge holders can qualify for an exemption from a hosepipe ban, but there is no single rule that applies across every UK water company.
The exemption may depend on the supplier, Priority Services Register status, the customer’s ability to use an alternative and the activity for which the hosepipe is needed.
Some suppliers notify eligible customers automatically, while other circumstances may require direct contact or supporting evidence.
The safest approach is to check the current Temporary Use Ban notice, confirm the exemption with the water supplier and retain written evidence. Even where an exemption applies, customers should continue to minimise non-essential water use.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Can a Blue Badge holder use a hosepipe during a ban?
Not always. Eligibility depends on the water company’s Temporary Use Ban rules and whether the customer qualifies for a disability or Priority Services Register exemption.
2. Does a Blue Badge automatically exempt someone from a hosepipe ban?
No. A Blue Badge alone does not create a nationwide exemption, as each water company sets its own conditions during a hosepipe ban.
3. What is the Priority Services Register?
The Priority Services Register is a free service for customers who need additional support because of disability, age or medical conditions. Some water companies use it when assessing hosepipe-ban exemptions.
4. Can exempt customers use a hosepipe for any purpose?
No. Even with an exemption, only certain activities may be allowed, depending on the water company’s published restrictions and conditions.
5. What happens if someone breaks a hosepipe ban without an exemption?
Using a hosepipe for prohibited activities without a valid exemption can lead to enforcement action and fines of up to £1,000 under UK law.
6. How can a Blue Badge holder confirm they are exempt?
Customers should check their water supplier’s latest Temporary Use Ban notice and contact the company if they are unsure whether they qualify for an exemption.
7. Are hosepipe ban rules the same across the UK?
No. Each water company can introduce different restrictions and exemption policies, so customers should always follow the rules for their local supplier.
How We Checked and Updated This Article?
This article was reviewed and updated on 2 July 2026 using current guidance from UK water regulators, legislation and individual water companies.
The original version contained useful information about Blue Badge exemptions, but some sections treated supplier-specific policies as though they applied throughout the UK. It also repeated similar explanations about eligibility, applications and the Priority Services Register.
We Updated the Article for the 2026 Hosepipe Restrictions
The introduction was updated to reflect South East Water’s new Temporary Use Ban for customers in Kent. The restriction was announced on 25 June 2026 and is enforceable from 00:01 on 3 July 2026.
A “Last checked” date was also added so readers can see when the information was most recently reviewed. Hosepipe restrictions can be introduced, changed or withdrawn at short notice, making a visible review date important.
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