Is there a hosepipe ban in my area? What you need to know as restrictions widen

More than 8.5 million UK households are currently affected by hosepipe bans.

South East Water, external, Southern Water, Thames Water and Yorkshire Water, external brought in the restrictions due to a lack of rain and increased demand for water during extended spells of warm weather.

Other water companies are warning of similar action if nothing significant changes.

The Environment Agency has already said that some areas are either in drought or a "state of prolonged dry weather, external", after the second driest spring on record for England and the sixth overall across the UK.

Despite a wet start to the week for many, the rain is unlikely to be anywhere near enough to replenish the shortages.

A hosepipe ban, also known as a Temporary Use Ban, is a restriction on using hosepipes. They are imposed by water companies to try and save water during periods of high demand or low supply.

People living in areas where there is a ban are not allowed to use one to:

This is to ensure enough water is saved for drinking, those who are vulnerable and for essential use.

Anyone breaking these rules could be fined up to £1,000.

Use the tool above to see if there is a hosepipe ban in force for your area. You can find your water company details on your utility bill or using the list below.

Find your water company, external

Thames Water, external announced a hosepipe ban that started on 22 July in Gloucestershire, Oxfordshire and parts of Berkshire and Wiltshire because of a lack of rain and increasing demand, which has stretched supplies.

Southern Waters, external ban - affecting almost one million customers - across Hampshire and on the Isle of Wight came into effect from 21 July.

A ban affecting South East Water, external customers across Kent and Sussex, began on 18 July.

Meanwhile, the first hosepipe ban of the year which began on 11 July was issued by Yorkshire Water, external. It affects much of Yorkshire, parts of north Lincolnshire and parts of Derbyshire.

There are quite a few exemptions to hosepipe bans, with exact details available on each water companys website.

They generally include:

A full list of exemptions can be found on the websites of each individual water company.

In the UK, hosepipe bans are enforced by water companies.

They have the authority to impose fines of up to £1,000 on those who violate the ban under the Water Industry Act, external.

Yorkshire Water said it had received more than 100 reports of people flouting its hosepipe ban, but also thanked its users for saving millions of litres over the weekend.

There are plenty of ways to keep your plants watered, especially with some forward planning

You can still water your plants using a watering can or bucket.

Even during a ban, the use of a hosepipe for some gardening activities is still allowed. Your water companys website will give exact details of what is permitted - likely to include the watering of crops, recently planted trees and shrubs and newly laid lawns.

Irrigation systems that involve drip or trickle irrigation only, which are fitted with a pressure reducing valve, a timer and are not handheld, are also allowed.

You can use a hose to water your garden if it uses water that is not sourced from the mains. This includes grey water (water that is not pure, like wastewater from washing clothes), rainwater from a water butt or water from a private borehole.

Find more tips on how to water your garden during a hosepipe ban here., external

While some of the UK has experienced rain since the end of the last heatwave, the long-term forecast for some may be worrying.

Southern and eastern areas of the UK are forecast to experience drier than normal conditions through the next month to mid-August.

More northern and western areas may have rainfall closer to normal.

While droughts are complex to forecast this might give us an indication that with drier than average weather on the way, we could well see more widespread restrictions in the coming weeks or months.

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None of the water companies with hosepipe bans in place have specified exactly when restrictions will be lifted.

Yorkshire Water has indicated that its ban could last until winter.

Southern Water has said it will end restrictions "as soon as we can, but this can only happen when theres enough water in our reservoirs, rivers and underground aquifers to meet demand".

In a similar vein South East Water has said it will lift its ban "when were satisfied that both customer demand and water supply levels are restored to a point where they are not breaching our Drought plan".

This is echoed by Thames Water which said the length of its ban "will depend on the weather" but there needs to be "prolonged and significant rainfall" in order to lift it.