If you live in areas across southern and eastern England, you will not be allowed to water your garden plants or wash your car with a hose, as seven water companies have introduced a temporary usage ban on hosepipes as drought grips parts of the country.

Restrictions imposed on using hosepipes by Thames Water, Southern Water, South East Water, Anglian Water, Sutton and East Surrey, Veolia Central and Veolia South East will affect about 20 million people.

The ban will being from today in areas from Kent, Sussex and Hampshire, throughout the Thames Valley, and many parts of the east Midlands and East Anglia. Under the ban, those using hosepipes despite the restrictions will face a fine of £1,000.

From today, people will not be allowed to hose down patios and paths, fill swimming pools, ponds and fountains. “It is more about informing people about the consequences of their behaviour. There will be sanctions but we hope people will be sensible,” said Environment Minister Richard Benyon.

Richard Aylard, the director of Thames Water, urged people to ‘police themselves’, saying “The aim of this is not to prosecute people, not to fine people, it is to make people use less water. We are all in this together and it is just public spirited responsible behaviour - like picking up litter.”

Olympic stadiums, including archery venue Lord’s cricket ground and the equestrian centre, Greenwich Park, aren’t included in the ban. But, public parks and allotments are included in the hosepipe bans.

The ban is to remain in place for the entire summer, as the drought that has left groundwater below 1976 levels in some places in England. Sutton and East Surrey operations manager Mike Hegarty assured that the ban will protect customers, ensuring the long-term availability of water supply.