AIBU to question no hosepipe ban exemption for people on benefits?

Yes, it's more to do with the possibility of not being able to use alternatives, like watering cans (which you obviously can and should do if on benefits, but people on benefits aren't really the target of this exemption, it's just that some of them are caught by it because it avoids complex messaging that could lead to confusion about who is and isn't exempt).

Just to check you think it’s bad for anyone to use a hosepipe when there’s no ban?

I do wonder whether the people fuming about their right to use a hosepipe despite the ban (put in place to try to conserve water for everyone when the reservoirs are low) are the same people who romanticise the Second World War and the way the country pulled together for the greater good...

I don't understand how being disabled or being on benefits means you need to use a hosepipe more? We don't even have a hosepipe I don't think. If we do, I've never used it. Is it because some people can't carry a watering can for the garden?

I live in Scotland where there hasn't been a hosepipe ban in about thirty years, but I use a watering can filled from a water butt for my tomatoes because it's more environmentally friendly anyway.

I think it's fine to scold people for wasting water, littering, and leaving dog shit around, it's objectively rotten behaviour.

Not sure what you mean but fine. Don’t quote me.

Oh how did you guess The info hub of the burning torches and pitchfork brigade.

YABU! And likely eligible to vote - I despair 🤦🏾‍♀️.

I see you are now targeting me on another thread. I think I shall take a step back as I feel this is becoming a bit of a derail. No doubt you will want the last word, though.

Interesting. It would then seem nearly every sod is exempt. 😅

Because 3 children and a universal credit or once upon a Time tax credits gets you on water sure for pretty much life here.

I do wonder why the British press need to pit Brit against Brit. What does it achieve?!

Firstly, we have the frothers who are incensed that someone on benefits might be able to use a hosepipe, when they the hard working bill payer can't.

Then we have the frothers on benefits saying that they'll use their hosepipe if they damn well want to because they somehow qualify for doing that.

Then we have the frothers who think hosepipe bans are somehow to do with the Government, even though the water companies have been privately owned companies since the Conservative Govt privatised them in 1989 (yes that's nearly 30 years ago since the Government were responsible).

It has been hot and dry for a long time now in certain areas. The water supply is struggling - there are lots of reasons for this and we could have a variety of threads discussing this and I think that water companies have a great deal to answer for.

However, I can't help thinking that regardless of what the rights and wrongs are, that it would be a good idea for everyone to be more careful with their water consumption just until it rains again, without it turning into a battle about who can get around the hosepipe bans!

Nonsense. Some water companies make exemptions in certain circumstances. For example, a disabled person unable to fill and carry a watering can might be allowed to use a hosepipe to water her flower bed. This 'people on benefits' thing we keep hearing is a nonsense category.I suspect all these posts bashing or inciting envy against 'people on benefits' are coming from some kind of PR campaign, not ordinary Mumsnet users who have been made aware of a particular issue.
If you are an individual Mumsnetter, @Crosorbled , please tell us about where you heard about this issue and what your interested is. If you don't reply, I will draw my own conclusions.

It’s an absolute joke, as is the time the water companies take to fix issues and the astronomical pay and bonuses the management get paid, hence why they can shove their ban.

Oh, how embarrassing.

Yes you were irate about it and said selfish arseholes. You’re using water now.

Oh for goodness sake. All this just because I pointed out hoses waste a lot of water. Which they do.

You know, when people plop bollocks, mn should at least edit the op to include the actual facts. Ideally with a link to the facts.

I’ve just seen an article in The Telegraph, and that’s actually how it reads.

At hoses generally?

So many things going on and a family might use a hose when there’s no ban. Posting on the internet uses water too btw.

To cool systems. So maybe add posting to hose pipes.

No it isn't a gateway. More of a stile that you can only climb over of you have specific benefits PLUS either specific medical needs (and there's a relatively short list of those qualifying medical conditions) or you have three or more children. And, of course, if you get your water from a company that is signed up to Water Sure.

Me neither.

My next door neighbour has one. One night some friend of their children turned it on for a Halloween prank as they were leaving the garden. Nobody noticed until the next morning. We are on water meters so it was an expensive prank. Rather put me off.

Unlike the angry stuff aimed at people eligble for the exemption?

You would be reasonable to be annoyed by this. You are unreasonable to believe benefit bashing in the media.

That’s great. A few more years of climate change with longer/more frequent heatwaves and you’ll be using it to store your drinking water when there’s nothing coming out of the taps.

Not angry at all. Sad perhaps 😔.