EMERGENCY powers are being drawn up to ensure that hosepipe bans cover the watering of patios and use of the latest garden accessories.

The new curbs are expected this summer and will apply to customers of water companies that have applied for tougher controls during severe water shortage. Seven companies are operating hosepipe bans; three of them have asked for the extra restrictions under non-essential use of water orders: Southern, Mid Kent, and East Sutton and Cheam. Other companies are keeping stocks under review.

The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs has been aware that the law is out of date. Fifteen years ago, when it was introduced, pressure hoses and adult-size splash pools for example, were not in common use.

Primary legislation would be needed to rewrite the terms of the hosepipe ban provided for by the Water Act 1991, and Margaret Beckett, the Rural Affairs Secretary, has been advised that the faster course will be invoking emergency powers.

It will then be up to each water company to decide which curbs it wishes to impose.

Among the activities that can be barred under non-essential use orders are watering of parks, gardens, golf courses, cricket pitches and other sporting venues. Watering allotments and replenishing ornamental ponds (ponds with fish are exempt), private swimming pools, splash pools and spas can be barred — pools used for medical treatment purposes and filling of pools during construction are exempt. Mechanical and automatic car washes can be barred but those with recycling facilities will be exempt.

Cleaning of trains, aircraft and boats except for reasons of hygiene and safety can be barred, as can cleaning the outside of buildings, office blocks, and factories and cleaning windows by hosepipe or sprinkler. Ornamental fountains and other water features can be barred even if the water is recycled.

The Environment Agency and Water UK, which represents the companies, yesterday appealed to the 13 million people living in areas of the South covered by the hosepipe ban to keep to its spirit and not to waste water.

The Environment Agency urged people to try to minimise their use of water “for whatever purpose”. Water UK said: “People should not hide behind the letter of the law. There is not any good reason for people to be using water on nonessentials. This action will help us secure supplies for the rest of the year and ensures we don’t have to take water from the environment.”

Water companies are relying on neighbours to police the bans and to report people who are breaking the law. Persistent offenders can be fined up to £1,000.

The Environment Agency and water company chiefs are pressing for more restrictions on the use of water, to prevent the last resort — standpipes. By preventing waste they also wish to guarantee supplies to households, for industry, and for basic hygiene for the rest of the year.

Non-essential use orders were last issued in 1991.

Many householders are preparing for shortages. Garden centres in the South East have reported high demand for water butts. People are allowed to use water from the butts to wash cars or for use on the garden. These butts, which range in price from £25 to £40, must be connected to a property’s drainpipe.

Watering cans were a bestseller at Tesco last weekend. Gardeners are also investing in mulch to put around roots of plants. Chipped bark is popular because it is ornamental and effective.

Water-retentive gel to use in hanging baskets and pots instead of soil is also selling well. This slowly releases moisture to a plant, holding it better than soil. Lining baskets and pot containers with plastic can help the retention of moisture, but a hole must be inserted to allow drainage.

Sales of drought-resistant plants such as rockroses, lavender, rosemary and grey-leafed plants are also doing well — though every new plant requires regular watering to become established.

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