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AIBU?

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Original poster

AIBU to be angry about hosepipe bans and whether people will comply?

358 replies

liquidfinch · 09/07/2026 16:57

AIBU to be so angry about the hosepipe bans and the situation we find ourselves in?!

If we keep having these heatwaves AND hosepipe bans the future is going to become utterly unbearable.

I read somewhere that it's not even about us running out of water this year! The water companies are just worried about having to supply what we need because it will impact their environmental targets (they want to reduce water use per capita).

If they don't hit these targets it could reduce their bonuses and/or they might be fined.

These bans will have enormous adverse impacts on nature and ecosystems.

If we can't water our gardens, plants and parks wildlife will suffer. Pollinators especially. I think it's appalling.

Are you ready for the hosepipe ban?

Have you taken any measures (buying water butts, filling up pools) to mitigate the impact this will have on your normal routine/enjoyment of your home/garden/life?

Most importantly: are you going to comply?

  • Cambridge Water:
Active as of July 9, and enforceable from 1am on Friday, July 17.
  • Southern Water:
Enforced starting from 1am on July 11.
  • South East Water:
Enforced starting from July 18.
OP posts:
FuzzyPuffling · 09/07/2026 17:05

I have a water butt and use grey water on my small garden. It's still dry as a bone. I'm just tryjng to stop things dying.

Limeandfigs · 09/07/2026 17:03

If we keep having these heatwaves AND hosepipe bans the future is going to become utterly unbearable.

Well yes, this is the problem with global warming.

If you think hosepipe bans are bad wait until we start getting Mediterranean-style water rationing in the next decade. Without new reservoirs and without more rain that's where we're heading.

MurunBuchstansangursCousinRossiter · 09/07/2026 17:02

I absolutely won’t comply.

Tableforjoan · 09/07/2026 17:02

We don’t Have one coming in but I wouldn’t listen if we did as I have crops to water and maybe the pool will just get topped up as I’m watering my cucumbers or something.

We have been asked to use less water which is fine I won’t pressure wash the bins and things like that. But my plants and pool will stay wet.

SooPanda · 09/07/2026 17:01

It really annoys me because of how badly our water works are maintained the rest of the year - we constantly have burst mains (old and need replacing sooner, can’t cope with the infrastructure of new houses etc!) with many incidents of flooding areas of our town. We pay a fortune and to ask us not to use it in a heatwave really takes the biscuit.

I have a waterbutt in my garden and I can water plants with watering cans, luckily filled the kids pool way before the heatwave hit.

Probablylate21 · 09/07/2026 17:00

No absolutely not. If I need to use it I will

PrizedPickledPopcorn · 09/07/2026 17:00

I use a water butt and watering can. Obviously the butt is already dry but I’ve moved across to the tap.

Most people who care do use a can, surely? Hosepipes have always been wasteful. It’s the swimming pools and paddling pools and playing that will be hit.

Vaxtable · 09/07/2026 16:58

You don’t need a hosepipe. I use a watering can, ok takes a while but it’s doable

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