Drought Permit vs Hosepipe Ban: What's the Difference?
Published: June 24, 2026
UK water companies have two distinct legal instruments available when supply gets tight: a Temporary Use Ban, which restricts what customers can do with a hosepipe, and a drought permit, which lets the company itself take more water from sources than usual. The two often get conflated in news coverage but they sit on opposite sides of the supply-demand equation. This page explains the difference and shows how the two fit together on the UK drought escalation ladder.
Two Instruments, Two Sides of the Balance
A drought permit is a supply-side instrument. The water company applies to the Environment Agency for permission to take more water than its normal abstraction licence allows. The permit might let the company take water from a river at a lower flow than usually permitted, or take water from a reservoir that is normally protected, or extend the season for a particular abstraction. The customer-facing effect is zero in itself; the company simply has more water available.
A Temporary Use Ban is a demand-side instrument. The water company, under Section 76 of the Water Industry Act 1991, declares restrictions on how customers can use water specifically for hosepipe-fed activities. The company itself doesn't get more water from anywhere; it reduces what its customers can do with the water they already get.
Who Grants What
A drought permit is granted by the Environment Agency, which is the technical regulator for water resources in England. The EA assesses the company's evidence of supply stress, environmental impact, and necessity, and either grants the permit (often with conditions) or refuses it.
A TUB does not require external approval. The water company declares it under its own statutory powers, gives the required minimum 7 days' notice (advertised in two local newspapers and on the company's website), and the ban comes into effect on the stated date.
A Worked Example
Imagine a water company whose summer reservoir storage is dropping faster than normal. It has two levers. It can apply to the Environment Agency for a drought permit allowing it to take more water from a normally-protected reservoir or from a river at a lower flow threshold than its standard abstraction licence permits. That is the supply-side response: more water in.
It can also declare a Temporary Use Ban restricting domestic hosepipe use, which reduces demand from its customers. That is the demand-side response: less water out. The two responses are independent. The company can use either, both, or neither, depending on the company's drought management plan triggers.
In severe droughts, the company often uses both: drought permit to access additional supplies and TUB to reduce demand. In milder droughts, the company might use only the TUB (because the supply is sufficient if demand is reduced) or only the permit (because additional supply is enough without restricting customers).
Why the Distinction Matters for Households
For most readers the practical takeaway is straightforward: your watering rules come from a TUB (or a drought order), never from a drought permit alone. If your water company has been granted a drought permit but has not declared a TUB, you can use your hosepipe as normal. If the company has declared a TUB, the TUB rules apply regardless of whether a drought permit has been granted alongside.
For wider context on what a TUB actually restricts and the £1,000 fine, see the hosepipe ban fines explainer. For drought orders (which sit further up the ladder than drought permits and can introduce Non-Essential Use Bans), see the drought orders explainer. For the current status by company use the UK hub or the postcode checker.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a drought permit?
A drought permit is a supply-side legal instrument granted by the Environment Agency to a water company under the Water Resources Act 1991. It lets the company take more water from rivers or reservoirs (or take water it would not normally be allowed to take) for a defined period. It is the company's tool, not the customer's restriction.
What is a TUB (Temporary Use Ban)?
A Temporary Use Ban is a demand-side legal instrument declared by a water company under Section 76 of the Water Industry Act 1991. It restricts customers' use of hosepipes for activities like watering gardens, washing cars, and filling pools. It is the household restriction, not a company supply tool.
Can a company issue a TUB without first applying for a drought permit?
Yes. The two instruments are independent. A water company can declare a TUB on its own authority at any point when conditions warrant it. It can apply for a drought permit if it needs more water from sources than normal. Many drought summers see TUBs without any drought permit application; some see drought permits without a TUB. The two often run together but neither requires the other.
Does my hosepipe behaviour change if my company has a drought permit?
No, unless the company has also declared a TUB or there is a separate drought order in force. A drought permit alone affects the company's water supply, not your right to use a hosepipe. Your restrictions come from the TUB (or drought order), not from the permit.
Where do drought permits and TUBs sit on the UK drought escalation ladder?
The conventional ladder runs voluntary advisory → TUB (Section 76 WIA 1991) → drought permit (EA, supply-side) → ordinary drought order (Defra, restricts commercial Non-Essential Uses) → emergency drought order (Defra, can ration domestic supply via standpipes). TUBs and drought permits sit at the same logical altitude on the ladder but address different sides of the supply-demand balance.