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Original poster

Wasting water in a heatwave. Private schools keeping grounds green with sprinklers..

163 replies

ifonlytheydlisten · 14/08/2026 21:49

I’ve seen this twice now this week whilst everywhere else has bans or people just accepting grass will be hay and water in short supply. Opposite end of spectrum to wild wire concerns and grassland burning near us. Do they have wierd exception? Is it just me that it really winds me up as entitled? It’s made me really annoyed.

OP posts:
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Original poster
ifonlytheydlisten · 18/08/2026 00:27

I have concluded that at least one of the schools I’ve seen watering lawns ( NOT pitches) probably has a bore hole. It’s a super elite one. Massive grounds so that the most obvious explanation. Doubt it applies at other. But who knows.

OP posts:
SoManyTshirts · 17/08/2026 10:55

GeneralPeter · 16/08/2026 12:24

I’d see it a bit differently. Most private schools with fields have either a borehole or rainwater collection.

They’ve made provision to avoid straining the mains supply, and because it works out much cheaper.

Schools that haven’t are where we should look for something wrong. Where are the incentives failing such that those choices (good for planet and for budgets) aren’t being made?

It could be of course that they’ve decided that green grass (or any grass) is a luxury their students don’t need. In which case again, is that because the wrong choices are being made by adminstrators or because that’s all the public will pay for.

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Do you have a source for this? Google isn’t returning any data. In my area, boreholes aren’t an option due to our geology, and we’ve had no rainfall for many weeks.

GeneralPeter · 17/08/2026 09:22

principalskinna · 17/08/2026 09:13

Indians? What are you on about?!

Edited

Well exactly. The Indians in my example are as irrelevant as the private schools in yours.

Because there are no special rules for either group and no indication that either is doing anything that is banned.

principalskinna · 17/08/2026 09:13

Indians? What are you on about?!

DriveVerySlowlyPastNumber23IWantThemToSeeMyHat · 17/08/2026 08:11

Maybe you could also direct your anger towards the water companies who leave burst water pipes spewing water over the road!

Knickerbockerglory75 · 17/08/2026 08:08

SomaTaim · 17/08/2026 06:35

It’s not a vital part of their business model to require green grass. Don’t be ridiculous.

The entitlement is beyond belief!

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The pitches are allowed to be watered if they are being used. Our school allows the local clubs to use their pitches. They are not watering the football or rugby pitches as they are not being used.

GeneralPeter · 17/08/2026 07:36

principalskinna · 17/08/2026 07:13

But it's a private school, of course they need green grass.
the kids are different to yours

The same rules apply to state and private schools.

Aren’t you angry that your Indian neighbours are still taking showers during the hosepipe ban? Do they think Indians are above you or something?

No, that would be ridiculous.

Why? Becuase it’s not a banned activity and it’s nothing to do with whether you are Indian or not.

edited to add: obviously different if a school is actually breaching the ban, but there’s nothing to suggest they are.

principalskinna · 17/08/2026 07:13

But it's a private school, of course they need green grass.
the kids are different to yours

Adventurewithadressinggownon · 17/08/2026 07:12

Even state schools and local sports centres are allowed to do this for health and safety reasons.

I’m pretty sure you’d be gnashing your teeth if your child came back covered in scrapes off the solid ground during P.E when they return back to school.

GeneralPeter · 17/08/2026 06:52

Almert · 17/08/2026 06:23

I suppose surge pricing would mean that the well off could water their gardens in the summer

Ok, I’ve changed my view. Instead I think that prices should be lower when there is less demand than when there is more. Let’s stick it to the fat cats.

Boomer55 · 17/08/2026 06:48

Private schools are classed as a business, and exempt from any bans.

SomaTaim · 17/08/2026 06:35

Knickerbockerglory75 · 16/08/2026 21:20

They've slapped VAT on them so quite clearly the Labour Party see them.as businesses.

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It’s not a vital part of their business model to require green grass. Don’t be ridiculous.

The entitlement is beyond belief!

user1492757084 · 17/08/2026 06:34

Good on them for watering if using water from a bore or private water storage.

Large green patches help keep the temperatures down and help keep trees, insects and birds alive.

SomaTaim · 17/08/2026 06:34

Report them.

Almert · 17/08/2026 06:23

I suppose surge pricing would mean that the well off could water their gardens in the summer

GeneralPeter · 16/08/2026 22:28

igelkott2026 · 16/08/2026 17:43

I saw an article today suggesting that there will be surge pricing for water - so you pay more in times of drought. It might concentrate the minds of people (nad businesses) who like to use sprinklers on their lawns.

I went past a local golf course on a train today and noticed their grounds were yellow so they are obviously not wasting water so zero requirement for a school, private or otherwise, to do so.

Plus - I thought private schools were charities, not businesses!

There should definitely be surge pricing for water.

It would also encourage more investment in water infrastructure, including private provision like rainwater storage.

Knickerbockerglory75 · 16/08/2026 21:20

igelkott2026 · 16/08/2026 17:43

I saw an article today suggesting that there will be surge pricing for water - so you pay more in times of drought. It might concentrate the minds of people (nad businesses) who like to use sprinklers on their lawns.

I went past a local golf course on a train today and noticed their grounds were yellow so they are obviously not wasting water so zero requirement for a school, private or otherwise, to do so.

Plus - I thought private schools were charities, not businesses!

They've slapped VAT on them so quite clearly the Labour Party see them.as businesses.

igelkott2026 · 16/08/2026 17:43

I saw an article today suggesting that there will be surge pricing for water - so you pay more in times of drought. It might concentrate the minds of people (nad businesses) who like to use sprinklers on their lawns.

I went past a local golf course on a train today and noticed their grounds were yellow so they are obviously not wasting water so zero requirement for a school, private or otherwise, to do so.

Plus - I thought private schools were charities, not businesses!

LakieLady · 16/08/2026 17:26

PeterRabbitsWhiskers · 14/08/2026 22:01

They are exempt and allowed to water sports pitches. State schools with sports pitches are also allowed to water them.

Does that include golf courses? The golf course on the opposite side of town is the only bit of green grass I can see from my house.

Knickerbockerglory75 · 16/08/2026 17:18

My son's school is watering it's cricket pitch as it's used by the local community too, which is permitted. The rest of the grounds look as brown and dead as everywhere else.

misswatchamacallit · 16/08/2026 17:15

No hose pipe ban in south Yorkshire, been super hot, but no ban that I am aware of

GeneralPeter · 16/08/2026 16:45

DenizenOfAisleOfShame · 16/08/2026 12:39

The PP’s comment was a bit odd, I agree.

How you jump from sprinklers (which are probably legitimate use from private supply anyway, as you say) to a school teaching social values to children - who in any case are all out of school - is a head-scratcher.

My local comp has a big fireworks display every November. Given MN posters’ yearly accusations of selfishness and environmental and wildlife damage from fireworks I guess we should damn the whole state sector for that.

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It put me in mind of the parable of the wise and foolish virgins, which, yes, we learned at my minor independent school.

The one that was about not expecting others to bail you out if they made good preparations and you didn’t.

DenizenOfAisleOfShame · 16/08/2026 12:39

GeneralPeter · 16/08/2026 12:24

I’d see it a bit differently. Most private schools with fields have either a borehole or rainwater collection.

They’ve made provision to avoid straining the mains supply, and because it works out much cheaper.

Schools that haven’t are where we should look for something wrong. Where are the incentives failing such that those choices (good for planet and for budgets) aren’t being made?

It could be of course that they’ve decided that green grass (or any grass) is a luxury their students don’t need. In which case again, is that because the wrong choices are being made by adminstrators or because that’s all the public will pay for.

Show quote history

The PP’s comment was a bit odd, I agree.

How you jump from sprinklers (which are probably legitimate use from private supply anyway, as you say) to a school teaching social values to children - who in any case are all out of school - is a head-scratcher.

My local comp has a big fireworks display every November. Given MN posters’ yearly accusations of selfishness and environmental and wildlife damage from fireworks I guess we should damn the whole state sector for that.

GeneralPeter · 16/08/2026 12:34

mugglewump · 16/08/2026 11:16

The hosepipe ban is for domestic use only, businesses can carry on using water - so many need it for their livlihood. Private schools are businesses, so they can water whatever they like. Rich privilige yet again.

I don’t think the rules are quite like that.

There is definitely rich privilege. Those children did nothing to earn the fees.

But if you want to abolish rich privilege you need to give away most of your money and move to China (which is at about the world average wealth per head).