Households across Kent who break the rules when next week's hosepipe ban comes into force could face hefty fines.

South East Water, which serves more than two million homes across the region, is stopping its customers using hosepipes and sprinklers from August 12, but what do the new rules mean you can and cannot do and what happens if you ignore them?

When is the ban?

The ban on domestic customers using hosepipes and sprinklers comes into force on August 12. The temporary use ban does not yet have an end date, and applies to South East Water customers in Kent and Sussex. It is the first hosepipe ban the company has imposed since 2012.

Why is it in place?

Exceptional demand, says South East Water, has led to multiple water supply issues across the network.

Despite producing, it says, an additional 120 million litres of water a day to supply the region, low levels of rainfall and further forecasts of dry weather this month have now forced the company to take action and despite asking people to conserve water where they can these past few weeks, demand for its water has remained very high.

It says it is putting the ban in place now, to try and stop water stocks decreasing even further ahead of autumn and winter and so that it can ensure there is drinking water available for all, including for vulnerable customers and essential uses.

What can't I do during the ban?

If you're a domestic South East Water customer you must not use any form of hose or sprinkler from August 12.

This means that you must not do the following things using any form of hose or hosepipe:

* wash your car

* wash windows, walls, driveways, patios or any other parts of your home

* clean a private leisure boat or other water craft

* fill or maintain swimming pools and/or paddling pools

* fill or maintain a domestic pond in your garden

* fill or maintain any form of ornamental fountain

* clean artificial surfaces such as fake turf or decking

Are there any exemptions?

Despite the stringent ban, there are a number of exemptions to the rules, for both homes and businesses, which can be found on South East Water's website.

These include being able to fill up your pond, if the welfare of the fish or aquatic life in there will be affected if you don't, while in the case of paddling pools these can be filled using hand held containers. A hose can still be used if it's running from your water butt or some other form of a conservation recycling system at home.

Anyone 'filling or maintaining a permanent swimming pool where necessary in the course of its construction' would also be overlooked as would those who needed it for medical treatment providing they seek further confirmation.

And while schools can't water their gardens or outdoor areas using a hose, they can use a hosepipe to water vegetable patches were food might be growing.

If you think you need to apply for an official exemption before the ban comes into force you can learn more about that and do that here.

Can I still get my car washed?

While you won't be able to any longer was your car at home using the garden hose or pressure washer, concessions have been granted to businesses that use hosepipes as part of 'commercial operations' and when needing to use that hose to carry out their business activities forms a significant chunk of their livelihood.

Therefore window cleaners and firms such as car washes can continue to trade while the ban is in place - as can people offering a very specific service such as a landscape gardener laying new turf who must water it for a number of days in order for the job to be successful.

Albeit gardeners, employed to tend to someone's garden, cannot use hoses or sprinklers to simply water the garden if it is a supply being provided by South East Water. Garden centres, however, are still permitted to water their plants using a hose but the company is encouraging firms such as these to find other alternative ways if they can during the temporary use ban.

Farmers too, can still use hoses for any 'commercial agricultural activities' or for caring for animals and other livestock - but must not use them to water their own homes and gardens even if they're on the same site.

Is there a penalty for ignoring the ban?

Any South East Water customer who ignores the ban risks a fine of up to £1,000 says the company. Officials have the right to enforce the temporary use ban under the Water Industry Act.

But how is the ban being enforced?

South East Water says it is relying on people's goodwill to follow the rules that are soon to be in place, and believes its customers fully appreciate the need and reasons as to why water needs to be saved now.

But it adds: "However, our customers need to be aware of the seriousness of the situation. We have powers to prosecute in a situation where someone knowingly ignores the restrictions and will use these powers where we think it is justified and in line with our enforcement policy, which can be found at www.southeastwater.co.uk/tubs."

How might you be caught?

Officials say they will look into cases where people tell them that hosepipe bans and sprinklers are being used when they shouldn't be.

While there aren't the resources to send teams out checking that people are following the rules, households can report someone, via the website, if they think they are breaching the temporary use ban.

Will I get a rebate or any form of refund on my bill during the ban?

The short answer to this, is no. The bill you pay, says the company, is for water supplied for drinking, cooking, washing and sanitation purposes and that the money paid does always reflect the potential for restrictions.

However if customers have included in their bill an additional charge for water use that is now covered by the ban, they should let the company know so that an appropriate allowance can be agreed.