People in Wiltshire are being urged not to call police if they spot their neighbours breaking hosepipe restrictions.
Thames Water has stressed that breaches of a hosepipe ban should not be reported to the local police force by calling either 999 or 101.
The company has also said it is not asking customers to report neighbours directly to the water firm over their use of hosepipes.
It comes as the majority of Wiltshire is now subject to restrictions following prolonged hot and dry weather.
Thames Water already has a hosepipe ban in place across its supply area, including Swindon and parts of Wiltshire.
Wessex Water introduced its own Temporary Use Ban at 12.01am today (Tuesday 18 August), covering all three million customers supplied by the company.
A Thames Water spokesperson said: “We hope our customers will continue to use water wisely, as they have done already this summer, and we’re really grateful for everyone’s help.
“While we’re not asking customers to contact us about how their neighbours are using water, including hose use, we may get in touch with customers who repeatedly don’t follow the rules.
“This is just to make sure they’re aware of the restrictions and how to use water responsibly.
“We are not asking anyone to call 999 or 101 if they see someone using a hosepipe.
“We would never knock on a customer’s door and ask them to pay a fine.”
Breaching hosepipe restrictions is a criminal offence under Section 76 of the Water Industry Act 1991. But it remains unclear how it’s enforced by water companies.
Those found to have broken the rules can face a fine of up to £1,000 and a criminal record.
It remains unclear how frequently water companies have pursued customers through the courts for breaching hosepipe bans.
The BBC previously asked four water companies whether they had issued fines for breaches.
Yorkshire Water said it had never issued a fine and would prefer not to do so, while Thames Water, South East Water and Southern Water did not clarify whether they had issued fines.
Those companies said enforcement would be a final option.
Under the Wessex Water restrictions introduced today, customers cannot use hosepipes for activities including watering gardens and lawns, filling paddling or swimming pools and washing private vehicles.
Hosepipes also cannot be used for cleaning patios, paths, driveways, walls and windows, filling ornamental ponds or fountains, or cleaning other outdoor surfaces.
Exemptions apply in some circumstances, including reasonable adjustments for people with a health condition or disability.
Uses relating to health and safety, animal welfare and certain business activities are also exempt.
Wessex Water said demand is around 30% higher than average following repeated heatwaves and lower-than-average rainfall.
The company has not confirmed when its restrictions will be lifted.
