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Water use restriction: How climate change is making it the new normal
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Every summer, the headlines start to roll in: reservoirs are running low, hosepipe bans are back, and residents need to save water where they can. For many of us, this now feels like a seasonal ritual and a clear sign of how climate change is reshaping everyday life.
“ Water-use restrictions are one of the most visible ways governments and utilities respond to water shortages. When supplies dwindle due to prolonged drought or extreme heat, temporary rules kick in to limit non-essential uses, especially outdoors. That can mean limits on lawn watering, washing cars, or topping up a garden pond. ”
These restrictions are no longer just short-term emergency measures. They’re becoming more common, arriving earlier in the year, and in some places, persisting well beyond the summer months. So what’s driving the shift? And how are different countries responding?
In this article, we’ll explore:
- What water-use restrictions are and how they work
- Why they’re becoming more frequent – including the climate science behind it
- How effective these restrictions really are
- What households and businesses can do to reduce outdoor water use
What is a water-use restriction?
“ A water-use restriction is a temporary or permanent rule that limits how individuals, households, and businesses can use water, especially during periods of scarcity. These measures are usually introduced by governments or water suppliers when supply is under pressure, whether due to drought, infrastructure limits, or seasonal demand spikes. ”
While they’re often associated with bans on watering gardens or washing cars, the scope of restrictions can vary depending on the severity of the shortage and the region’s policy approach.
Common types of water-use restrictions:
Hosepipe bans and outdoor use limits
The most common restriction in the UK
Bans on watering gardens, filling paddling pools or hot tubs, and washing cars or patios with a hose.
Time-of-day watering rules
Common in hotter climates like parts of the US
Outdoor watering is only permitted in early morning or late evening to reduce evaporation loss.
Odd-even watering schedules
Used to spread demand evenly
Households water on alternating days based on house number — odd on one day, even on another.
Commercial or sector-specific limits
Restrictions for high-volume users
Golf courses, car washes, and construction sites may face stricter limits or complete bans during droughts.
Restrictions are usually phased, starting with public appeals for voluntary conservation and escalating to formal bans and fines. This tiered approach allows governments to respond proportionally to changing supply conditions while also encouraging public cooperation.
Why are water-use restrictions enforced?
Water-use restrictions aren’t only a response to dramatic droughts or headlines about empty reservoirs. They’re often triggered by a combination of seasonal pressures, supply system vulnerabilities, and longer-term environmental shifts. In many cases, restrictions are pre-emptive – designed to preserve supply before conditions become critical.
Below are some of the main reasons water-use restrictions are enforced.
Periods of below-average rainfall, especially when combined with higher-than-average temperatures, reduce the amount of water stored in reservoirs, rivers, and aquifers.
These conditions increase evaporation and can quickly tip an area into water stress, even in places that don’t typically face scarcity. Water companies or authorities may implement outdoor restrictions to prioritise drinking water, hygiene, and critical services.
Even in the absence of drought, water levels can fall below safe thresholds. This can be due to a dry winter season, over-extraction during peak demand periods, or poor recharge of underground aquifers.
Once supply drops below a certain point, restrictions are enforced to slow depletion and avoid longer-term damage to the system.
Ageing infrastructure can pose challenges even when water is technically available. Leaky pipes, outdated distribution systems, or insufficient treatment capacity can all limit how much water reaches homes and businesses, especially during high-demand periods like summer.
In such cases, authorities may introduce restrictions as a stopgap to reduce pressure on the system.
In many regions, water demand increases dramatically in warmer months. People water gardens more often, wash cars, fill paddling pools, and use sprinklers to cool outdoor areas.
In some areas, household demand can double in summer. Restrictions are sometimes used to curb this peak demand, particularly when it risks outpacing supply or straining infrastructure.
Water-use restrictions may also be enforced to protect ecosystems during sensitive periods. Rivers and wetlands can become severely degraded when water is diverted for human use during dry spells.
Limiting extraction helps maintain habitat health and biodiversity – especially for chalk streams in southern England or snowmelt-fed rivers in the western US, which are ecologically fragile and already under pressure.
Restrictions can also be temporary responses to contamination incidents, such as a chemical spill or agricultural runoff, that limit the availability of clean water.
In these cases, authorities may restrict non-essential use while clean-up or treatment processes are underway.
“ Water-use restrictions aren’t just about crisis response, they’re also used as a preventive tool to reduce risk, protect supply, and ensure fairness during periods of heightened pressure. ”
How climate change is making water-use restrictions more common
Water-use restrictions aren’t just popping up because we’re having the occasional hot summer. They’re becoming a regular feature of life, and climate change is a big reason why.
Across the UK, Europe, and large parts of the US, we’re seeing a clear shift in how and when water is available. And for water suppliers, that means rethinking how to manage demand, often by acting earlier and more frequently.
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A faster, less predictable water cycle
Rising temperatures mean more evaporation and less water in soil, rivers, and reservoirs. Heavier downpours often fail to replenish supply, while long dry spells are becoming more frequent.
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Earlier snowmelt, less water when needed
Warmer winters cause snow to melt earlier, reducing water availability during peak summer demand – especially in places like the western US that rely on snowmelt for supply.
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More demand, less supply
Hotter summers increase personal and agricultural water use, while drying landscapes lose water faster. Combined with population growth and ageing infrastructure, even short dry spells put the system under strain.
What we’re already seeing
In 2022, hosepipe bans were introduced across much of southern England after one of the driest summers in recent memory. This summer, restrictions are back again - in some places even earlier than before!
And the UK isn’t alone. As of July 2025, over a quarter of the continental US is experiencing moderate to exceptional drought, with outdoor water-use restrictions already in place across parts of California, Arizona, and Nevada.
Outdoor water-use restrictions in the US
In the US, water-use restrictions are set at the local level. Cities, counties, and utilities make their own rules, typically in response to drought declarations, falling reservoir levels, or spikes in seasonal demand.
“ That decentralised approach means outdoor water-use restrictions can vary widely across the country. But in recent years, one thing has become clear: they’re happening more often, in more places, and for longer stretches of time. ”
A growing trend in water-stressed regions
Across the western US, outdoor restrictions have become a routine part of summer. States like California, Arizona, Nevada, Colorado, and Utah have spent much of the past decade responding to water shortages triggered by heatwaves, overuse, and shrinking snowpacks.
Here’s a snapshot of what’s been happening:
Lower stress on infrastructure, reducing the risk of bursts and leaks
Slower drawdown of reservoirs, giving more time for recovery or rainfall
Fewer emergency measures like rota cuts, tankering, or rationing
Public awareness, helping shift behaviours around water use
Limitations and challenges
That said, restrictions have their limits. They’re reactive by nature, usually triggered after a problem has emerged, and they depend heavily on public cooperation.
Challenges include:
👁️🗨️
Enforcement
Spotting and fining every breach is often impractical
⚖️
Equity concerns
Restrictions can affect households differently depending on property type and access to outdoor space
⏳
Short-term thinking
Without follow-up policies, water use can rebound once the ban is lifted
“ In some regions, climate volatility is outpacing short-term fixes. Restrictions can delay a crisis, but they can’t fix systemic issues like over-extraction, ageing pipes, or a lack of investment in reuse and recycling. ”
Part of a wider strategy
Where restrictions work best, they’re part of a broader water resilience strategy, alongside smart metering, leakage reduction, investment in alternative sources, and permanent incentives to reduce waste.
What they do provide is breathing room: a way to act quickly, engage the public, and prevent the situation from escalating. And when well-designed, they can be a stepping stone toward longer-term water efficiency and behavioural change.
What households and businesses can do
Water-use restrictions are most effective when they’re backed up by long-term habits and design choices that make water-saving the default, not just a temporary fix. While policy can set the boundaries, real change happens in day-to-day decisions about how we manage water at home, at work, and in the places in between.
For households
You don’t need to wait for a hosepipe ban to cut back on outdoor water use. These simple changes can make a real difference:
Smarter irrigation
Use drip systems or sensors
Drip irrigation and moisture sensors target roots directly, using far less water than traditional methods.
Rethink your lawn
Swap turf for native plants
Grass lawns are water-hungry. Drought-resistant landscaping can drastically cut usage while staying attractive.
Collect rainwater
Use barrels or water butts
Rainwater storage is cheap and sustainable. Great for watering, cleaning, and reducing mains water use.
Water smartly
Early or late to reduce loss
Watering before 9am or after 6pm helps reduce evaporation and keeps plants hydrated longer.
Check for leaks
Inspect taps and hoses
Small leaks can waste big volumes over time. Regular checks can catch hidden losses early.
For businesses
Outdoor water-saving can be just as important for commercial buildings, offices, and public spaces, particularly those with large landscaped areas.
Water-efficient fixtures
Low-flow taps and pressure regulators
Low-flow taps, spray nozzles, and pressure regulators help reduce unnecessary waste in maintenance and cleaning routines.
Sustainable landscaping
Cut costs with native plants
Switching from decorative lawns to hardscaping, native shrubs, or wildflower borders can save water and reduce maintenance costs.
Smart irrigation
Automate for efficiency
Automated systems with weather-based controls reduce unnecessary watering during rainy or cool periods.
Track your usage
Identify patterns, reduce waste
Installing sub-meters for irrigation or outdoor taps helps larger sites identify patterns and reduce waste over time.
Engage your team
Build awareness across users
Visible signage, reminders, and building-wide campaigns can help shift behaviours and encourage conservation.
These small shifts can add up to significant reductions, and when they become part of a routine, they make future restrictions less disruptive. Whether or not there’s a ban in place, using water more efficiently outdoors is one of the most impactful steps most households and businesses can take.
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Sources:
- Greenly, Why is drought such a problem for the economy, https://greenly.earth/en-gb/blog/ecology-news/why-is-drought-such-a-problem-for-the-economy
- EcoWatch, Extreme Weather: The New Normal in the UK, https://www.ecowatch.com/extreme-weather-new-normal-uk-met-office.html?utm_source=chatgpt.com
- Greenly, Heatwave in the UK: What should people and companies do, https://greenly.earth/en-gb/blog/company-guide/heatwave-uk-what-should-people-and-companies-do
- U.S. Drought Portal, https://www.drought.gov/?utm_source=chatgpt.com
- Met Office, Driest July in England Since 1935, https://www.metoffice.gov.uk/about-us/news-and-media/media-centre/weather-and-climate-news/2022/driest-july-in-england-since-1935
- BBC, Weather Articles, https://www.bbc.com/weather/articles/cyvj2lm2p14o
- The Guardian, England Reservoirs at Lowest Level for a Decade, Hosepipe Bans Imposed, https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2025/jul/12/england-reservoirs-lowest-level-for-decade-hosepipe-bans
- UK Legislation, The Water Supply (Water Fittings) Regulations 2005, https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2005/1905/regulation/2
- UK Legislation, Water Industry Act 1991, https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1991/56/contents
- Thames Water, Hosepipe Ban 2022, https://www.thameswater.co.uk/news/thames-water-hosepipe-ban-2022?utm_source=chatgpt.com
- California Water Views, California Announces New Emergency Drought Regulations, https://www.californiawaterviews.com/california-announces-new-emergency-drought-regulations
- Reny Studio, Las Vegas Bans Decorative Grass to Combat Drought, https://renystudio.com/las-vegas-bans-decorative-grass-to-combat-drought/
- Los Angeles Times, LADWP Conservation Update, https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2022-07-13/ladwp-conservation-update?utm_source=chatgpt.com
- Las Vegas, Lake Mead Water Shortage, https://www.lasvegasnevada.gov/News/Blog/Detail/lake-mead-water-shortage?utm_source=chatgpt.com
- EPA, WaterSense Outdoor Water Use Guidelines, https://19january2017snapshot.epa.gov/www3/watersense/pubs/outdoor.html?utm_source=chatgpt.com
- Greenly, How to reduce water usage, https://greenly.earth/en-us/blog/company-guide/how-to-reduce-water-usage