The UK has been hit by the driest summer since records began in 1961, with continual warnings for us to cut down on our water usage and a large hosepipe ban to come into force at the start of August.
Northern Ireland was the first area to implement the ban due to concerns about draining water reserves, although it has since lifted the temporary water-saving measure.
United Utilities is the next firm which will be putting a ban on hosepipes in place for regions in the north west of England, with the introduction set to begin on August 5. Seven million people will be affected by the ban in this region alone.
But what does this mean about washing cars? Can you still wash them, and could you be fined if you decide to ignore the ban in the affected regions?
Washing using a hosepipe
The simple fact is that you can’t wash your car using a hosepipe if the ban is in place. While this means you won’t be able to use a hose or pressure washer, you can still clean your car with buckets of water filled up from inside the house.
You can also use ‘grey water’, which is water that has already been used – such as from a shower, for example.
To put it into perspective, research from Uswitch says that using a hosepipe to wash a car will use up between 400 and 480 litres of water – compared to 32 litres using buckets.
Can I be fined?
United Utilities has said that when its ban comes into force, it will open a service whereby members of the public can call the firm to report anyone who is flouting the restriction. If found guilty of breaking the ban, you could have to pay a fine as much as £1,000, and water companies do have the power to enforce this.
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What are my other options?
If you want to clean your car, but have no access to a hosepipe, there are other options.
The first of these is to wash your car with buckets of water which are filled up from an inside tap. This significantly reduces the number of litres of water you would use to wash a car.
Another method is to use waterless wash products and lots of cloths. These products are sprayed on the surface and carefully wiped off to remove dirt. While it works for light grime and dust, these should not be used if ingrained dirt is present as it could lead to you causing marks. They are readily available, and cheap to buy, too.
Another method is to get a professional to clean it. Businesses can apply for exemptions if they require a hosepipe and water for their trade, and therefore can clean your car without being fined – providing they have the correct documentation to prove it.
And finally, the hosepipe ban will not last forever. Despite most grass being parched, and water reserves being stretched with this exceptionally dry and hot weather, it will rain eventually and everything will return to normal. At that point you will be able to use a hosepipe again.
What if my area doesn’t have a hosepipe ban?
If your area has not implemented a hosepipe ban, you should still be considerate with your water usage.
This means that you should limit the amount of water used when washing a vehicle, or try to avoid cleaning your car altogether during this dry spell. Some water companies have already requested we limit our water usage, so it’s important that we all play our part to ensure there is sufficient water left in reservoirs and reserves.