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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:
RaininSummer · 14/08/2026 22:33

superchick · 14/08/2026 21:57

I've very recently had new turf laid and if I let it die it will need replacing again because its not fully established yet so I am sprinkling my lawn from time to time. I'm sure my neighbours think I'm an arsehole but replacing my entire lawn a second time would be worse for the environment in the longer term so I just crack on.

My water board actually lists newly laid turf and new plants as an exception for a short time.

TeenLifeMum · 14/08/2026 22:28

We don’t have a hose pipe ban but 10 minutes down the road does. I’ll keep watering the lawn until I’m told not to.

EmeraldShamrock000 · 14/08/2026 22:25

Report them. Green grass is the new shameful meter. Yanbu.

AndyKitten · 14/08/2026 22:25

5128gap · 14/08/2026 22:23

They have caretakers AND gardeners making their living just maintaining the lawn sprinkler system? So about half hours work a week between them? No wonder the fees are so high.

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Don’t forget the VAT.

lanthanum · 14/08/2026 22:24

superchick · 14/08/2026 21:57

I've very recently had new turf laid and if I let it die it will need replacing again because its not fully established yet so I am sprinkling my lawn from time to time. I'm sure my neighbours think I'm an arsehole but replacing my entire lawn a second time would be worse for the environment in the longer term so I just crack on.

I believe that there is an exemption for lawns laid in the last 28 days.

DelphiSwimsLate · 14/08/2026 22:23

superchick · 14/08/2026 21:57

I've very recently had new turf laid and if I let it die it will need replacing again because its not fully established yet so I am sprinkling my lawn from time to time. I'm sure my neighbours think I'm an arsehole but replacing my entire lawn a second time would be worse for the environment in the longer term so I just crack on.

i believe there are exceptions for newly laid turf (if laid within the last 4 weeks, you can use a hose). Also exceptions to clean harmful substances off surfaces. Check with your water provider.

5128gap · 14/08/2026 22:23

AndyKitten · 14/08/2026 22:17

They have caretakers and gardeners who do that fur a living. Are they less worthy than the car wash workers?

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They have caretakers AND gardeners making their living just maintaining the lawn sprinkler system? So about half hours work a week between them? No wonder the fees are so high.

Howlerhog · 14/08/2026 22:23

ifonlytheydlisten · 14/08/2026 22:04

This wasn’t sports grounds either time. It was the lawns / areas in front of the schools. The pretty bits

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Businesses are exempt though. The public wanted private schools to be treated as businesses and yet here you are whining on when that happens.

Wipeywipey · 14/08/2026 22:22

AndyKitten · 14/08/2026 22:14

We have a hosepipe ban because of the shitty water companies, the drought, the concreting over or every single square inch of green space and the booming population.

It’s more complex than just the useless water companies.

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No, if the water companies had been investing the systems would be expanding with the population and properties being built. We have known for decades climate change was coming, yet they still took their profits rather than prepare.

Original poster
ifonlytheydlisten · 14/08/2026 22:20

I’m sure there other jobs there could do lol. Today’s was a massive un manned sprinkler on a lush green lawn with no trees in sight, not a sports pitch etc. Rest of the houses, pubs etc around the school were all yellow like everywhere else. It was very odd sight.

OP posts:
AndyKitten · 14/08/2026 22:17

5128gap · 14/08/2026 22:15

How does using a sprinkler system on the front lawn make them a living? Are fees refundable for periods when the frontage is unsightly?

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They have caretakers and gardeners who do that fur a living. Are they less worthy than the car wash workers?

Original poster
ifonlytheydlisten · 14/08/2026 22:15

Wipeywipey · 14/08/2026 22:11

Does no one see the main issue is we have to have hosepipe bans on an island? Our water services are so poorly maintained they have decided to pit the people paying bills against each other rather than use the profits to keep the system working properly.

Totally agree. The whole raw sewage being chucked into sea and rivers constantly also makes me & un repaired leaks but that’s a whole other topic!

OP posts:
IdaGlossop · 14/08/2026 22:15

ifonlytheydlisten · 14/08/2026 22:02

@WatchingTheStarsFromMyHammockthat’s how I felt. Found it really really odd and made me really annoyed. But I accept that maybe they have a bore hole or similar. Just seems so wasteful and unneeded.
I accept that car washes need to
make a living.
bbq manufacturers will be missing out on huge sales now!

Edited

Only manufacturers of disposal barbecues.

5128gap · 14/08/2026 22:15

AndyKitten · 14/08/2026 22:06

And private schools don’t have people there who need to make a living? So why can car washes use as much water as they want but schools cannot?

What’s sauce for the goose is sauce for the gander.

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How does using a sprinkler system on the front lawn make them a living? Are fees refundable for periods when the frontage is unsightly?

AndyKitten · 14/08/2026 22:14

Wipeywipey · 14/08/2026 22:11

Does no one see the main issue is we have to have hosepipe bans on an island? Our water services are so poorly maintained they have decided to pit the people paying bills against each other rather than use the profits to keep the system working properly.

We have a hosepipe ban because of the shitty water companies, the drought, the concreting over or every single square inch of green space and the booming population.

It’s more complex than just the useless water companies.

EclipsesAreBoring · 14/08/2026 22:14

The private school I work at has its own borehole. We are not on mains water.

PeterRabbitsWhiskers · 14/08/2026 22:12

ifonlytheydlisten · 14/08/2026 22:04

This wasn’t sports grounds either time. It was the lawns / areas in front of the schools. The pretty bits

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Report them then.🤷‍♀️

Wipeywipey · 14/08/2026 22:11

Does no one see the main issue is we have to have hosepipe bans on an island? Our water services are so poorly maintained they have decided to pit the people paying bills against each other rather than use the profits to keep the system working properly.

AndyKitten · 14/08/2026 22:06

ifonlytheydlisten · 14/08/2026 22:02

@WatchingTheStarsFromMyHammockthat’s how I felt. Found it really really odd and made me really annoyed. But I accept that maybe they have a bore hole or similar. Just seems so wasteful and unneeded.
I accept that car washes need to
make a living.
bbq manufacturers will be missing out on huge sales now!

Edited

And private schools don’t have people there who need to make a living? So why can car washes use as much water as they want but schools cannot?

What’s sauce for the goose is sauce for the gander.

bitontheobtuse · 14/08/2026 22:05

Summersorcherisjustsummer · 14/08/2026 21:55

I saw watering going on at a new office complex today .

We shouldn't be in such a dire water shortsge in the first place.

Trees planted in the current planting season (ie within the last year) can be watered, so that is probably what they were doing.

WatchingTheStarsFromMyHammock · 14/08/2026 22:04

@ifonlytheydlisten They actually had the sprinklers on when we were there! Bold as brass

Original poster
ifonlytheydlisten · 14/08/2026 22:04

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.

This wasn’t sports grounds either time. It was the lawns / areas in front of the schools. The pretty bits

OP posts:
Original poster
ifonlytheydlisten · 14/08/2026 22:02

@WatchingTheStarsFromMyHammockthat’s how I felt. Found it really really odd and made me really annoyed. But I accept that maybe they have a bore hole or similar. Just seems so wasteful and unneeded.
I accept that car washes need to
make a living.
bbq manufacturers will be missing out on huge sales now!

OP posts:
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.

BrassOlive · 14/08/2026 22:01

superchick · 14/08/2026 21:57

I've very recently had new turf laid and if I let it die it will need replacing again because its not fully established yet so I am sprinkling my lawn from time to time. I'm sure my neighbours think I'm an arsehole but replacing my entire lawn a second time would be worse for the environment in the longer term so I just crack on.

Can't you just use a watering can as per the rules?