Water has been turned off

[thatcrookedsmile]

We have had a letter come through that our allotment site will have no water while a massive leak will be fixed which will take a few months. The water is off for now and most likely until the end of summer.

So we have maybe 50 people without water trying to keep their plants alive. Any tips I can share?

Most plot holders have water butts BUT even 1000l won't be enough if we have a dry summer.
I can easily 100 litres a day in a dry spell.

God bless the English weather, but we had a small crop last year with 40° heat, and access to as much water as we needed.

If you're lucky enough to have a water butt and car, all I can suggest is that if you know a dry spell is coming up for a week or two, is to transport say 20l a day (or whatever containers can hold) and either use to water or put in water butt.

Our allotment site only has hand pumps,really hard work! Other other hand full plot only costs £24 ayear.

Ooofff, my advice, get the deckchairs out and the tea on, you are going to have a spectacular summer watching game of thrones worthy feuds unfolding left and right as people are accused of stealing other people's water, encroaching boundaries, and "borrowing".

Plants wise, can you drive close to your patch? I'd get a water bowser to fit your boot and take it down each evening as needed.

Is any compensation being offered?

Has anyone priced up what a temporary hire of a water bowser would cost

Or suggested to whoever is responsible for the water leak provides/ contributes to a bowser?

It's a problem with 700m of piping underground so a big job. I'll have a look at costs.

Luckily I have a couple of waterbutts but they cost a pretty penny and I'd be angry if a few of the cheeky members want to 'share' might get myself a massive wolf to guard my water @Timeforabiscuit

I'm terrible at watering my allotment (as in I just don't do it !) My plot does absolutely no worse than anyone else's, and better than many.
Save the water you have and use it for when you first plant things out and until they are established. After that, anything planted directly in the ground will probably be ok. They will send roots out to find moisture. It's surprising how well they cope. Feel for anyone that has a greenhouse though... what a nuisance.

Save your bath water and take it to the allotment in Jerry cans.

I’d start saving water at home to take with you.
Everytime you empty a milk bottle fill it with water and store it away behind your shed or greenhouse for the summer.

Plant and grow crops that dont need the water supply. Our local allotments don't have any water supply, so its up to nature to determine what does and what doesn't grow.

Is there anywhere close ish that you can get water? I used to walk down to the river a few hundred metres or so with a wheelbarrow, jug and H2GO bag.

So long as you’re not taking more than 20 cubic metres a day you don’t need a licence.

Our allotments have no mains water supply at all.
People have water butts fed by rain from their shed roofs. We mulch a lot to reduce evaporation from soil surface.

I only water newly planted stuff; after that its on its own; rain or nothing. By NOT top- watering it forces the plant to send roots deeper in the soil.

Yes mulch. Water under where you put the plant in, with a handful of good spongey compost type stuff.

Look at permaculture methods. I plant a bottle along side my thirstiest plants, make holes in it first, then fill the bottle and put the lid back on. It acts as a self watering system.

Mulching can help.

Hand pull weeds, instead of hoeing. Don't disturb the baked crust of soil.

Water is heavy; don't carry a car load of water containers. It isn't cost effective in extra fuel consumption. I might take a few gallons if needed to save a tree.

Poke in a pipe next to any valuable big plants now that the soil is soft, so that when it's parched, you don't waste water on the surface of the soil.

Don't bother with water-needy crops like lettuce. They are cheap to buy anyway. Or you could put a few in a tub at home instead.

Is there a nearby property you could run a hose from and pay for the water?

All great ideas thank you.
Good idea with the river, there's one very close.
I don't have a car but fan transport a few litres a day.

Thank you all!

Get one of these if you’re collecting river water. https://www.amazon.co.uk/Litre-Water-Carrier-Sprinkler-Wheelbarrow/dp/B07Q2ZSP3G/ref=mp_s_a_1_4?crid=U8QSVE982W6L&keywords=h2go+bag&qid=1681449106&sprefix=h2go%2Caps%2C157&sr=8-4

My grandad was a very keen gardener and always said a good hoeing was as good as a good watering.
So you could try hoeing.