Short answer. Find out who sets water restrictions where you live: in France, prefects issue drought orders at four levels, listed on VigiEau 1; in England, water companies impose hosepipe bans 2. Keep your emergency water stored and full all year, and fix leaks first: a tap dripping once per second wastes 2,700 gallons a year according to Ready.gov, and over 3,000 according to the EPA 56.
What do drought restriction levels actually mean?
Each country names its steps differently. In France, the measures are graduated and temporary, they limit or suspend non-priority uses, and the system exists to preserve priority uses, starting with access to drinking water 1.
| Country | Who decides | Levels or tools | What changes for a household |
|---|---|---|---|
| France | The prefect of each department, by order (arrêté) 1 | Vigilance, alerte, alerte renforcée, crise 1 | Vigilance asks households to save water; from alerte, limits on watering, filling and emptying pools and washing vehicles; crise preserves priority uses and bans many domestic uses 1 |
| England | Only the water company, under section 76 of the Water Industry Act 1991 2 | Temporary use ban, known as a hosepipe ban 2 | No hosepipe to water a garden or clean a private car; no filling or maintaining a domestic swimming or paddling pool 2 |
| Australia (Sydney) | The water utility, Sydney Water 3 | Water Wise Guidelines 3 | Gardens and lawns watered before 10 am or after 4 pm (smart or drip systems excepted); hand-held hoses need an on-off trigger nozzle; no hosing of paths or driveways except for safety, health or similar reasons 3 |
| United States | State and local authorities 5 | U.S. Drought Monitor categories D0 (abnormally dry) to D4 (exceptional drought) 4 | The Monitor describes conditions; the rules come from your state or local government, which Ready.gov says to always observe 5 |
Restrictions tighten in steps, so a first-level notice is the time to prepare, not to wait.
Where do you check the restrictions for your address?
- France: vigieau.gouv.fr, updated daily, shows a national map of restriction orders and the one that applies to your department 1.
- England: your water company, which must notify customers before enforcing a ban and publish it on its website and in two local newspapers 2.
- Australia: your water utility; in Sydney, the Water Wise Guidelines pages of Sydney Water 3.
- United States: Drought.gov shows the current U.S. Drought Monitor and offers drought alerts by city or ZIP code when the Monitor or the Drought Outlook updates 4. For current rules, Ready.gov says to contact your state or local government 5.
What changes at home before a drought arrives?
Keep your emergency water full all year. Stored water is not the place to save: keep it at the planned level and rotate it as usual. The Phaenyx guides on how much water to store per person and how to store it give the amounts and rotation rules.
Fix leaks first. The U.S. EPA says the average household's leaks can waste more than 9,300 gallons (about 35,000 litres) a year, and that 9% of homes have leaks wasting 50 gallons (about 190 litres) or more per day 6. Fixing easily corrected leaks can save homeowners about 10% on their water bills 6. In England, the Environment Agency says a leaking toilet can waste 200 to 400 litres a day 2.
Prepare the garden. Ready.gov advises drought-tolerant plants, mulch around trees and plants, a mower blade raised to at least three inches, rainwater harvesting where practical, and covers on pools and spas to reduce evaporation 5.
Which water savings make the biggest difference?
In the official figures below, the largest volumes come from outdoor use and leaks.
| Use | Figure | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Garden hose | 600 gallons (about 2,270 L) or more in a few hours | Ready.gov 5 |
| Leaks, average household | More than 9,300 gallons (about 35,000 L) a year | EPA 6 |
| Tap dripping once per second | 2,700 gallons a year (Ready.gov) or over 3,000 gallons a year (EPA) | 56 |
| Leaking toilet | 200 to 400 litres a day | Environment Agency 2 |
| One back-flush of a traditional pool filter | 180 to 250 gallons (about 680 to 950 L) | Ready.gov 5 |
During a drought, Ready.gov lists short showers instead of baths, full loads only in washing machines and dishwashers, washing vegetables in a pan rather than under the tap, and not letting water run while brushing teeth 5. Outdoors, it says that most of the year lawns need only one inch of water per week, that heavy rain removes the need to water for up to two weeks, and that in extreme drought you can let the lawn die to save trees and large shrubs 5.
What if your water comes from a private well?
A private well does not depend on the mains network, but it depends on groundwater. Ontario says water levels in shallow wells can fluctuate widely in a water shortage, that shallow wells are the most vulnerable in dry weather, and that in extreme cases the water table can fall below the bottom of the well 7. In Ontario, groundwater is usually highest in April and declines until late September or October 7.
Ontario's advice for well owners 7:
- Measure and record the water level regularly to spot a trend; for a true static level, do not pump for several hours first.
- Have the pump and pressure system checked regularly by a licensed well contractor, and compare your use with the well's safe yield.
- Consider a larger pressure tank or a temporary above-ground storage tank of potable water, tested at regular intervals.
- Do not add surface water or rainwater to the well: it can contaminate the supply and will not fix a shortage.
- Do not install a pump larger than the well's safe pumping rate, or lower the intake to the very bottom of the well.
If you suspect the quality of your well water, Ontario says to have it tested immediately to make sure it is safe to drink 7.
Does drought raise the risk of fire and heat?
Yes. Drought.gov says drought dries out grasses and trees, making them more flammable, and can raise the chance of ignition and the speed of spread 4. If smoke reaches you, see the guide on wildfire smoke.
Drought.gov's public health page also tracks heat warnings. In the U.S., the general rule for a Heat Advisory is a maximum heat index of 100°F (about 38°C) or higher for at least 2 days, with nights not below 75°F (about 24°C), though criteria vary across the country 4. The heatwave guide covers cooling and warning signs.
What happened in Cape Town's "Day Zero"?
Cape Town is a documented case of a city planning to turn off household taps. In February 2018, the Western Cape premier said the city projected dams would reach an average of 13.5% by mid-winter, the potential trigger for Day Zero, or Level 7 restrictions, when taps in residential areas would be turned off 8. The city planned a lifeline supply through water collection points 8.
The target was that every resident use less than 50 litres per person per day 8. The premier credited residents' cuts in consumption with pushing Day Zero back to 9 July 8. The lesson: households that cut use early bought the city time.
What official agencies recommend
- France (Ministry of Ecological Transition): check restrictions on VigiEau; at vigilance, save water; from alerte, respect limits on watering, pools and car washing 1.
- England (Environment Agency): follow your water company's temporary use ban; bans can reduce the water put into networks by 3 to 5% 2.
- Australia (Sydney Water): water gardens before 10 am or after 4 pm, use a trigger nozzle on hand-held hoses, never leave hoses running unattended 3.
- United States (Ready.gov, EPA, Drought.gov): observe state and local restrictions 5, fix leaks 6, track the U.S. Drought Monitor 4.
- Canada (Ontario): well owners should record water levels and have the pump and pressure system checked by a licensed well contractor 7.
Where they differ: the dripping-tap figure is 2,700 gallons a year for Ready.gov 5 and over 3,000 gallons for the EPA 6. Both describe the same order of loss.
Frequently asked questions
Can I still use a watering can during a hosepipe ban?
The Environment Agency's list of uses a ban can cover refers to watering a garden or cleaning a private car using a hosepipe, while filling or maintaining a domestic swimming or paddling pool is listed without that condition 2. Check your own water company's notice for its exact list and any exemptions.
Should I fill extra containers when a drought is announced?
Keep your planned emergency supply full all year rather than filling extra at the last minute. In France, restrictions target non-priority uses and protect access to drinking water 1; in England, the banned uses are outdoor and leisure uses 2.
How do I know if my well is running dry?
If your well is giving less water than usual, Ontario says to check the pump and pressure system for mechanical failure, check the water level and start keeping a record of it 7. Shallow wells are the most vulnerable in dry weather 7.
Check your local water risks
The Phaenyx water pages set out drinking water rules and alerts country by country.
Your Phaenyx plan includes a "Water and air" section that sets out the water and air risks for your postal code. The Phaenyx Safe app keeps your quick-reference sheets available offline. Build your Phaenyx plan.
Sources
- Ministère de la Transition écologique (France) — Tout savoir sur la sécheresse — https://www.ecologie.gouv.fr/secheresse-economiser-leau (accessed 2026-10-27)
- Environment Agency (England) — Why do we have temporary use (hosepipe) bans during a drought? — https://environmentagency.blog.gov.uk/2025/06/12/why-do-we-have-hosepipe-bans-during-a-drought/ (accessed 2026-10-27)
- Sydney Water (New South Wales, Australia) — Report water misuse — https://www.sydneywater.com.au/water-the-environment/what-we-are-doing/water-wise-guidelines/report-water-misuse.html (accessed 2026-10-27)
- Drought.gov (U.S. National Integrated Drought Information System, NOAA) — Drought and Public Health Impacts — https://www.drought.gov/sectors/public-health (accessed 2026-10-27)
- Ready.gov (U.S. Department of Homeland Security / FEMA) — Drought — https://www.ready.gov/drought (accessed 2026-10-27)
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA WaterSense) — Fix a Leak Week — https://www.epa.gov/watersense/fix-leak-week (accessed 2026-10-27)
- Government of Ontario (Canada) — Managing your water well in times of water shortage — https://www.ontario.ca/page/managing-your-water-well-times-water-shortage (accessed 2026-10-27)
- South African Government (gov.za) — Premier Helen Zille: Western Cape State of the Province Address 2018 — https://www.gov.za/news/speeches/premier-helen-zille-western-cape-state-province-address-2018-28-feb-2018 (accessed 2026-10-27)
Turn this into action
A plan worked out for your household.
- Water, food and equipment counted for each person and pet
- The nuclear plants and zones around your home
- Phaenyx Safe: one tap to tell your people you are safe
Sources
- Ministère de la Transition écologique (France) · Tout savoir sur la sécheresse checked 2026-10-27
- Environment Agency (England) · Why do we have temporary use (hosepipe) bans during a drought? checked 2026-10-27
- Sydney Water (New South Wales, Australia) · Report water misuse checked 2026-10-27
- Drought.gov (U.S. National Integrated Drought Information System, NOAA) · Drought and Public Health Impacts checked 2026-10-27
- Ready.gov (U.S. Department of Homeland Security / FEMA) · Drought checked 2026-10-27
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA WaterSense) · Fix a Leak Week checked 2026-10-27
- Government of Ontario (Canada) · Managing your water well in times of water shortage checked 2026-10-27
- South African Government (gov.za) · Premier Helen Zille: Western Cape State of the Province Address 2018 checked 2026-10-27