In article , Janet Tweedy
wrote:

You should be able to get to a website of your local water company and
it will tell you what they deem to be non essential. At the moment I
believe you can fill up water butts etc with a short piece of hose from
the tap to the butt/empty dustbin but you can't water directly from the
end of it IF it's attached to the mains.

Thames Water has invented the notion that its customers can use only a
short length of hose but it's a lie - they have no power under the
hosepipe legislation to decree what length of hose anyone can use. They
are (illegally) trying to stop people from wandering around the garden
with a hosepipe in one hand and a watering can in the other, topping up
the watering can whenever and wherever they want. But it's perfectly
legal to do this whether under a hosepipe ban or drought order -- and
it's the only way that some elderly/infirm gardeners can water their
needy plants.

Thames Water have done their credibility no favours at all. And they
compound their dishonesty by instructing their helpline staff to give
false advice to customers who phone in.