Can you use an outside tap during a hosepipe ban? The three ways to rescue your garden this summer

OVER 23million Brits are currently under temporary hosepipe ban restrictions around the country. After weeks of hot weather and dry conditions, many may be uncertain how to rescue their garden without a hose. Millions of Brits have been restricted by new hosepipe bans this week Credit: Alamy However, there are a number of ways of water plants, such as using a bucket or watering can Credit: Getty Eight water providers across England and Wales have introduced hosepipe bans this month, with Thames Water‘s over 10million customers coming under a ban yesterday. Under the rules, a hosepipe cannot be used for a number of garden activities, such as watering plants, filling up swimming and paddling pools, and cleaning cars. Sign up for The Sun newsletter Thank you! Anyone caught breaking the rules could be slammed with a £1,000 fine, unless there is an exemption, or suitable loophole. For gardeners, this can include being able to water newly-laid turf for four weeks after it is installed, watering new saplings and trees, or using recycled water. A hosepipe is not the only piece of equipment that is restricted by a ban -sprinklers and pressures also cannot be used when rules are enforced. Despite a number of items being unusuable in the garden this summer, the use of an outdoor tap can be a helpful alternative. During a hosepipe ban, there is no rule preventing the use of an outside tap – however, as expected, it cannot be used to supply a hosepipe. An outside tap can be used to fill up both a watering can or a bucket, which is completely permitted during a hosepipe ban. Most read in The Sun There are also no restrictions on the size of the container used to water plants, so a watering can and bucket can be as big as you like. Approved drip or trickle irrigation systems can also be used to water plants, but they must meet the specific criteria of having a reducing valve or timer. It is important to check the website of your individual water supplier as rules can slightly differ between companies Credit: Sun Picture Desk Hosepipe ban rules - what you can't use a hose for The rules of a hosepipe ban: No watering gardens using hoses or sprinklers No cleaning cars, boats or other motor vehicles No watering plants on domestic land No filling or maintaining domestic swimming or paddling pools No filling domestic ponds or fountains No cleaning outdoor surfaces like patios, walls or paths Various loopholes can also let you use a hosepipe to fill up a fish pond , clean large animals and provide them with drinking water. It is important to check the website of your individual water supplier before using these loopholes, as some providers have slightly different rules and regulations. Comment now