A 24-year-old man named Harry compares caring for plants to looking after babies, and he plans to break the law to keep his shrubs alive by using a hose, despite a ban that affects over 10 million people in England. Thames Water has recently joined several other companies in restricting hosepipe use, adding to the growing list of water providers enforcing such measures. Other water companies like Welsh Water, Anglian Water, and Southern Water have also introduced bans, with South East Water recently extending its restrictions to cover an additional 1.5 million people.
Political fire
The hosepipe ban has sparked political controversy, with figures like Suella Braverman, a Reform UK MP, accusing it of being an 'act of lunacy in Labour’s two-tier Britain.' She and others, such as Kevin Hollinrake, the Conservative party chair, have criticized the restrictions, with Hollinrake calling them a 'kick in the hosepipe.' While there are exemptions for certain groups, such as those on benefits with multiple children or specific medical conditions, the debate has turned into a divisive issue. Some argue that it pits those who are vulnerable and allowed to use water against those who are not. The debate has grown louder, even though the rules are actually more nuanced.
The water crisis in focus
The hosepipe bans have come as a response to the ongoing water crisis, driven by the effects of the climate emergency. In 2025, the UK experienced its hottest year on record, and 2026 is already proving even hotter and drier, according to the Met Office, with three heatwaves having already occurred. A recent report from the House of Lords warns that England could face a shortfall of 5 billion litres of water per day by 2055 if current trends continue. Water companies, according to Johns, are left with no choice but to impose these restrictions because household water consumption has risen, driven by hot weather and depleting rivers and reservoirs at alarming rates.
Buckets and AI
Harry isn’t just angry about the ban itself but is also pointing fingers at water companies, which the regulator Ofwat has said are leaking nearly 3 billion litres of drinking water a day in England and Wales. Greenpeace UK argues that this amount is five times higher than what even a nationwide hosepipe ban could potentially save. Another growing problem, according to Harry, is the rise of AI datacentres, which require vast amounts of water to keep servers cool. Over 450 such datacentres exist in the UK, and more are being planned. Water UK, an industry body, has warned that these projects are 'fatally flawed' because they completely ignore water usage in their planning. Many of these datacentres are located in the south and southeast of England, where many of the hosepipe bans have been introduced. The Government Digital Sustainability Alliance has also raised concerns, stating that AI could lead to a global increase in water use from 1.1 billion to 6.6 billion cubic metres by 2027, which is more than half of the UK’s total water usage.
To flout the hosepipe ban, Harry is set to water his plants using a hose, while others have found more clever ways to get around the restrictions. For example, one TikTok user has devised a method to hide a hose inside a watering can, allowing a strong stream of water to flow. Some people are also using a workaround where they connect their hose to a bucket continuously refilled by a running tap, which technically meets the rule but still uses large amounts of water.
Harry questions whether the real problem is actually gardeners, as he and others continue to break the ban in creative and sometimes covert ways. The situation shows how the restrictions are not only causing environmental concerns but also sparking a mix of frustration, defiance, and political debate.