Seven million Brits will be affected by a hosepipe ban, it has been announced this morning.
Water company, United Utilities, has said its temporary ban will come into force on August 5, affecting those in the north West of England.
The ban will apply to all customers in the region, with the exception of those in Carlisle and the north Eden Valley, where supplies remain at reasonable levels.
What is a hosepipe ban and what are the rules?
A hosepipe ban means the people are restricted from using the watering tool to tend to their gardens, wash their cars (or private boats), or to fill or maintain a paddling pool, swimming pool, pond or fountain.
Should someone ignore the restrictions of the ban they could face a fine of up to £1, 000 and go to court.
Is there a ban in my area?
Six other water companies in the UK have dismissed the possibility of a hosepipe ban.
Severn Trent, Anglian, Northumbrian, Bristol, Welsh and Thames Water have said they will not be imposing a ban, but have warned customers to be "water wise".
A hosepipe ban was introduced in Northern Ireland at the end of last month, and despite the recent rainfall, the water company has confirmed that its ban will remain in place.
Water-saving tips for the home and garden
Southern Water has issued some tips on how people can save water in their home and garden.
- Place a jug of water in the fridge for a supply of chilled water, rather than running the tap until it runs cold.
- Wash vegetables in a bowl, not under a running tap. Soaking vegetables makes them easier to peel but a running kitchen tap wastes more than nine litres of water a minute.
- By not overfilling the kettle you can cut its energy use by a third.
- Washing machines and dishwashers - make it a full load when you use your washing machine or dishwasher. Miss just one wash a week and you’ll save more than 5,000 litres a year. New dishwashers use less water than washing by hand.
- Use a bucket and sponge to wash the car, not a water-wasting hose.
- A bath uses around 80 litres of water whereas showers use an average of 35 litres. Swapping a daily bath for a shower could save nearly £50 a year.
- Some showers use more water than others – electric showers are already efficient and power showers use lots of water. Choose a water efficient shower head to save water and energy. Spending one minute less in the shower each day can also save £10 a year off water bills.
- Cleaning your teeth - leaving the tap running when brushing your teeth wastes 8,000 litres of water a year.
- Flushing the toilet accounts for 30% of the water we use. Install a save-a-flush bag and you’ll save one litre of water each time.
- Plants prefer rainwater to tap water. Fit a water butt to a downpipe and collect rainwater for your garden.
- Lawns may go brown in dry weather but quickly recover when it rains and don't need to be watered in between. Cut grass slightly longer in dry periods and less often, leaving the cuttings on to retain moisture.
- Apply a thick layer of mulch, compost or chip bark on your soil between plants to help keep the moisture in and suppress weeds.
- Cooled, shower or laundry water can be used on plants if it is not too greasy but avoid re-using water with strong detergents or household cleaning agents. Only use the water on plant roots, and not leaves.
- Fit a trigger gun to your hosepipe or, best of all, use a watering can.
- Use a water-retaining gel for pots and hanging baskets.
- Water plants in the early morning or evening when it is cooler, and when less water is lost to evaporation. Give plants a good soaking once or twice a week in dry weather rather than light daily watering. Use a watering can and aim directly at the roots, rather than scattering water on leaves.