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 !!!

Don't get me started on the abysmal state of affairs surrounding benefits 😅

But why? When their neighbour could fill a paddling pool with a bucket? In fact, their neighbour could fill the paddling pool with a bucket and leave the tap running between bucket fulls because they can't be arsed to turn it on and off all the time. Yet that is not banned.

It's actually more of an appalled vibe than one of frustration.

It takes my breath away that some of the human race can be so totally dense, inconsiderate and misinformed. You may blame the water companies for the diminishing water supply, and place it at their doors and from a financial viewpoint, but the fact is that we're fucked. We're going headlong into some severe effects of global warming, and at a way greater speed than ever anticipated.

So rather than blatantly flaunting these water company requests (and 'requests' is what we have atm where I am) and thinking that it's clever to use your sprinklers, hoses, etc, consider that it actually isn't clever at all. it's blatant ignorance and stupidity.

This has seriously pissed me off.

Oh and BTW I have the priority service. And I use a watering can.

The Government (of all stripes) might consider not allowing the building of housing estates in areas where water availability is 'under pressure".

The lack of water has got nothing to do with 'benefits'. Water bosses have racked up debt, borrowing money, to pay the directors massive bonuses. This the way of venture capital: sweat the assets, fail to maintain infrastructure, fail to properly treat sewage, then pump it into rivers and the sea, pay huge bonuses to the 'top dogs', keep increasing the customer bills, request Government hand-outs.

WTF can benefit claimants ignore the hosepipe ban?! That’s two tier treatment so screw water companies. Getting hose out now…

I don't believe so. I think that they have to have a disability to get the priority support.

Enjoy the reduced water pressure and restrictions where you live when everyone else thinks the same as you.

Everyone is allowed to fill paddling pools...for their kids,. grandkids, pets, the ducks.

Goodness.

I forgot the UK is an arid desert.

What on earth are we to do?

I believe it's the WaterSure tariff.

Reduced prices for those on benefits.

Hoorah! Excellent news for those of us who work hard.

Let your hose flood the garden 🤣

I am on benefits and not eligible for WaterSure. For my supplier, your bill has to be 10% of your monthly income to qualify. My bill (spread out over the year, I get billed twice a year) is £24. It would have to be 4 times that for me to be on that tariff.

So no, not every one on benefits gets cheap water.

Wonderful to know.

The COVID times were the peak of their lives.

my sister works hard and is also on benefits.... why are you being so weird?

I am simply drawing attention to the rather elementary fact that certain individuals on benefits also enjoy reduced water charges.
It’s hardly an eccentric revelation.

so what if they can?

The reason people are on Water Sure is usually because they have a disabled person in their household that uses more water due to bathing, washing of clothing etc because of things like incontenence.
It is not something they "enjoy".

And it is weird you say it is "wonderful" to know that just because someone is on benefits that they don't automatically get a discount.

What I don't understand is why the shareholders aren't liable for the debts the water companies have?

Because that’s the whole point of a Limited company. Ultimately in an administration the shareholders will lose their investment but it’s limited to the money they have invested.

but they also aren't guaranteed a huge payout if the business is not doing well. Same with fat cat bosses. Not paying people properly and sucking up all the cash like a black hole, benefitting noone

They can guarantee themselves whatever they wish up to a point. They just borrow the money from the bank. Losding the debt on the company.

this is a bit simplistic but mostly correct.

Do they own the infrastructure? Or just the service, if the latter the gov should just set up a rival company and everyone can switch to that one. Taking into account that it needs running properly and inspecting regularly. The programme 'Dirty Business' was an eye opener (and still available to watch on All 4).

The whole point of privatising our national infrastructure was to allow customers "choice". The idea being that would drive competition to provide the worst service.

By the time we got to water, the pretence of competition was dropped, and we simply switched from a public monopoly to a private one. The only difference being the quality of shareholders lives.

We were promised we could switch water supplier. Whatever happened to that ?

Capitalism is for the few, not the many.

Private profit, public debt.