Neighbour demanded proof of our hosepipe ban exemption

[HoseBan]

My NDN has just demanded to see proof that we are exempt from the local hose pipe ban !!!!

I have said to them I won’t be showing them anything as it’s private but they can report me if I want and the water company can check.

We literally have just been filling a small paddling pool daily for the dc for after school and today have a little sprinkler toy as it’s boiling.

I know some people aren’t aware that there are exemptions (eg being on priority services register or certain tariff) but I’m so shocked they demanded proof !!!

But you don’t need a hosepipe for those. So although you’re on the par, not exempt from the hosepipe ban.

Thank you to the poster who mentioned being exempt if you're disabled. We've not as yet been issued with a hosepipe ban in our area, but I was wondering as I watered my garden last night, how I would do it with a watering can if we were, as I have severe back problems, and simply cannot carry one, so it's good to know that at least some common sense prevails. Although using a hosepipe to fill a paddling pool, is rather taking the piss in my opinion. If your kids simply must have water to cool down, then run them a bath, they can use it to play in, and then clean up at the end of the day too.

I think its a fair question actually. Paddling pools are not a necessity

Turn the hose on them.

Maybe you should read it again…
*Restricted
You must not use a hosepipe to fill or top up domestic swimming pools, paddling pools or hot tubs.

Exceptions
You can still use water for:

• Pools or hot tubs that use a water recycling or reuse system.
• Filling or topping up a pool using a bucket or other handheld container.
• Pools used for medical, veterinary or animal welfare purposes.
• Permanent swimming pools where water is needed during construction.
• Pools designed for medical treatment or therapeutic use.
• Pools used as part of a religious ceremony in a place of worship or community setting*

Tell your neighbour to google the exemptions and what they cover and if they feel you are breaking the rules then they should feel free to report you but you won't be providing them with your private information.

As long as you are all turning on each other over filling a fucking paddling pool with a hose, these disgusting water companies will never be held to account.

Your neighbours are a disgrace and I would tell them where to go.

I’m disabled and have a blue badge but I wouldn't dream of filling a paddling pool during a hosepipe ban. That is just taking the piss.

that will depend on the water authority. You need to check your own.

This is from your water supplier.
Pools
Restricted:
Filling or maintaining a domestic swimming or paddling pool (this would include constructed, non inflatable hot tubs).
Exemptions:
Where you do this with a water conservation recycling system or hand held container.
Filling or maintaining a permanent swimming pool where necessary in the course of its construction or where it is designed, constructed or adapted for use in the course of medical treatment.
When the pool is within places of worship or community pools and when they are used as part of a religious ceremony

So exemptions still do not allow customers to fill up a paddling pool with a hosepipe.

Therapeutic use covers @HoseBan then.

Are you on the priority services register? You need to register that to be able to be exempt.

depends on your water authority

Why are you refilling it every day?

it depends on the water authority (is anyone else bored with my saying that?)

Yeah, I see what you are saying. But a small paddling pool doesn't take a lot of water and an able bodied person can easily fill it using bucket / watering can.

I would also say that domestic hosepipe bans are really not necessary. We live on an island with lots of lakes and hills and plenty of rain. There is no reason at all why there should be any shortage of water for domestic needs.

What's lacking is a proper water infrastructure : water companies have been milking domestic consumers and paying huge bonuses / dividends to foreign owners & shareholders for decades while OFWAT does nothing about it.

This is what we should be getting angry about NOT spying on our neighbours.

Actually no, because after the op stated which area she comes under, their rules are slightly different

• Pools

Restricted: Filling or maintaining a domestic swimming or paddling pool (this would include constructed, non inflatable hot tubs). Exemptions: Where you do this with a water conservation recycling system or hand held container. Filling or maintaining a permanent swimming pool where necessary in the course of its construction or where it is designed, constructed or adapted for use in the course of medical treatment. When the pool is within places of worship or community pools and when they are used as part of a religious ceremony.

Nothing in this that allows paddling pools as per the OP.

My sister used to live in a house with a luscious garden that stayed looking good during hosepipe bans, so she was reported a couple of times. Happy to show off her private well

Because she can.

Sad but true.

@HoseBan better lob a bar of soap in the pool and tell the kids not to forget to soap behind their ears or potatoes will grow out of them 😁

Looking at the profits taken by these companies and the fact that huge amounts of water get wasted from leaks (19% of all water put into public supply, apparently) we definitely need to be holding the water companies to task before ripping each other apart over a few buckets.

Some of these replies really highlight the lack of understanding around disabilities.

Would they allow the use of a hosepipe to water the plants then? If so I’m just adding a step by putting the water in a paddling pool
for a few hours then using it to water the plants

As I said previously it needs to be clean water. One of my dc has a feeding button so we can’t let bacteria get into it hence needing clean water each time

Wouldn’t it be safer not to use a paddling pool at all?