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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To just ignore the hose pipe ban this year

89 replies

Shan5474 · 12/04/2024 14:44

I know using a hose pipe is against the rules so I am BU but I’m fed up.

I live alone with no kids, all the neighbouring houses have at least four people in the family. I love gardening and I grow fruit, veg and flowers in a medium-sized garden. Last year we had a hose pipe ban almost solidly from May-October. We have one every summer (south coast).

I want to be a good person/neighbour, I just get so bloody frustrated when I can hear my neighbour’s shower drain constantly or them splashing in hot tubs/paddling pools in the summer while I’m taking ages filling watering can after watering can, when it would only take 5-10 mins to water the garden with a hose sprayer.

WIBU to just quickly use the hose in the summer? The neighbours can hear it, will they judge me? I know water use is per person not per household but the amount of showering/clothes washing/dishwasher use in the neighbouring houses must be way more than the extra water I’d use by just running the hose

OP posts:
RawBloomers · 12/04/2024 14:56

Stripeysocks1981 · 12/04/2024 14:47

Because she’s using much less water than her neighbours?

Unlikely. People living in a household of 4 use, on average, 112.5 liters of water a day. People living on their own use, on average, 149 liters of water per day.

And hose pipes use, on average, 170 liters every 10 minutes.

GrandHighPoohbah · 12/04/2024 14:54

I agree that hosepipe bans are a very blunt instrument. It seems so stupid/unfair that there are people taking 15 minute showers daily, yet someone who showers for three minutes every other day can't use the same amount of water on their garden via a hosepipe.

TiberiusFlam · 12/04/2024 14:52

Just use the hose. I will be this year. I’m not letting all my plants die because the water company can’t sort out its leaks.

aperolspritzbasicbitch · 12/04/2024 14:51

How are they filling up pools during a hosepipe ban?

calligraphee · 12/04/2024 14:51

Stripeysocks1981 · 12/04/2024 14:47

Because she’s using much less water than her neighbours?

Not per person, per person she is using more.

OP - YABU.

DeedlessIndeed · 12/04/2024 14:49

Beside the point, but have you got water butts?
It's better for some plants, and if you have ones that you can just dunk the watering can in the top they are much quicker than waiting for a tap to fill up the cans.

DistinguishedSocialCommentator · 12/04/2024 14:49

Stripeysocks1981 · 12/04/2024 14:47

Because she’s using much less water than her neighbours?

How does the OP knw that??

DistinguishedSocialCommentator · 12/04/2024 14:48

OP

Are you taking the mick?

Octonaut4Life · 12/04/2024 14:48

Of course you're being unreasonable. The fact that it's annoying isn't relevant.

Stripeysocks1981 · 12/04/2024 14:47

RawBloomers · 12/04/2024 14:47

You risk making it so you and all your neighbours are more likely to have a standpipe. So yes, YABU.

Why is it relevant that you live on your own and your neighbour’s don’t?

Because she’s using much less water than her neighbours?

RawBloomers · 12/04/2024 14:47

You risk making it so you and all your neighbours are more likely to have a standpipe. So yes, YABU.

Why is it relevant that you live on your own and your neighbour’s don’t?

HeraSyndulla · 12/04/2024 14:46

If the local authority think they can earn something from it they’ll have drones up clocking ppls back gardens and flower beds.

Stripeysocks1981 · 12/04/2024 14:46

How bloody ridiculous. You’re using the water anyway filling the watering can! I would just crack on, use the hose (obviously only as much as you need to) and not give it a second thought.

Rainydayinlondon · 12/04/2024 14:46

You’re not being unreasonable and I agree it’s really unfair.

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