From Friday, 9 October 2026 South East Water customers in Sussex can no longer:
- Water a garden using a hosepipe
- Clean a private motor-vehicle (or a trailer for such a vehicle) using a hosepipe (including commercial cleaning services)
- Water plants on domestic or other non-commercial premises using a hosepipe
- Clean a private leisure boat using a hosepipe (including commercial cleaning services)
- Fill or maintain a domestic swimming or paddling pool
- Draw water, using a hosepipe, for domestic recreational use (such as hot tubs),
- Fill or maintain a domestic pond (manmade or natural) using a hosepipe
- Fill or maintain an ornamental fountain (including a cascade or any other display of moving water, and includes filling by permanent plumbing)
- Clean walls, or windows, of domestic premises using a hosepipe (including commercial cleaning services)
- Clean paths or patios using a hosepipe (including commercial cleaning services), or
Clean other artificial outdoor surfaces using a hosepipe (including commercial cleaning services).
While these restrictions mainly apply to household water use, if you’re a business customer in the South East Water area, this ban may impact you depending on the type of business you have, for example using a hosepipe to wash windows or paths or to clean vehicles or boats.
Business water usage accounts for nearly a third of all water usage in England, and businesses are being asked to reduce consumption wherever possible to help manage the situation and avoid further restrictions.
Find out more
You can read frequently asked questions (FAQs) about the hosepipe ban on the South East Water website.
We’re here to help
For a range of ways to help your business be more water efficient, please visit our Business water efficiency tips page. Alternatively, if you have any questions about the hosepipe ban in your area, please contact South East Water, your regional water wholesaler, directly to find out more.
If you’d like to speak to one of our friendly advisers, please get in touch.