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 !!!

Thank you..I had no idea.much more helpful than the first reply

Unless someone has a medical need to play in the sprinkler it’s a bit crap to carry on using the sprinkler for fun even with being exempt from the hosepipe ban. Paddling pool I can understand more becoming an able bodied person could fill a paddling pool using buckets.

I’m exempt from the hosepipe ban and while I’ll carry on using the hosepipe to water the veg plot i wouldn’t use the hosepipe or sprinkler to water the lawn for example.

Saying that I do get that the ban is shit and due to the water companies incompetence. We’ve had the 4th wettest winter ever! They need to build more reservoirs and fix more leaks!

Because it's easier to berate the OP and some people like to feel like they are good people for following the ‘rules’ even when the rules aren’t particularly logical.

You can be angry with the water company’s practices while also feeling frustrated watching your neighbor refill her paddling pool daily while everyone else is on a hosepipe ban.

The labour government has quashed any more public debate about new reservoirs. The one outside Abingdon is a goer now. As is the Suffolk one. So fingers crossed for the south east who will have more reserves moving forward

I don't think that's true. There was a story in the papers about a man that used a hosepipe to siphon his used bath water to water the garden. He was fined because the hose pipe ban isn't just for mains water, it covers any use - e.g. a water butt in your garden.

So he used grey water with a hosepipe ingenious.

The exemption does NOT mean you can fill a paddling pool or let kids play with a sprinkler ffs. It’s so you can water your plants and not for anything else. Seriously some people 🤦🏽‍♀️

Well I’m sure my neighbours can contact south east water if they really need to, what irritates me is they can clearly see the issues we have so to ask why and for proof is just rude.

Why the rudeness? It's a chat forum.

thats a bit odd if its water you already have eg waterbus's then why does the hosepipe matter as long as your not connected to a mains source ?

that's a ridiculous reason, every 4 and 6 yo are boiling and stressed after school, you are not special

but I would still tell the neighbour to fuck off 😂

Your kiddie paddling pool can't be using much more water than a bath or a long shower, bit of common sense is lacking in this country (taking long bath when there's not enough water is lacking common sense too)

They’re very nosy and it isn’t their business but you are being selfish if you’re taking advantage of your exemption to do things that aren’t necessary and are using more water than you need to.

I’m the last person to defend the water companies and the utter shambles the water industry is, but this is a two tier hosepipe ban.

Can’t be right, aren’t we in this together?

When the CEO earns £1 million a year, no we're not all in this together.

Because what you can be entitled to varies by need but also for other reasons. I am on the power and gas PSR's but not entitled to a power bank. My water company doesn't publish PSR hose ban entitlements permanently because they seem to vary from year to year, I guess depending on the severity of the situation. I will say though that they did both write and email me about the ban and told me the broad outline and where to go to the website and find out more. And no I sometimes get bottles delivered and sometimes not. I am lucky in that I can buy it from Amazon or add it to my grocery order but I am aware that's not the same for everybody.

Us I mean, not them!

not necessarily, I’m a priority customer for water and electricity as I need fresh water to make medical drinks, and because I need to keep medication in the fridge. I’m not disabled. But a good water and electricity supply is essential.

I am fairly sure that is NOT true. Here's what the Beeb says
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-65998591

Do any of those medical needs necessitate use of a paddling pool daily? What do you do for the remaining 99% of the year when the weather isn’t appropriate for them?

Because the OP has knowingly posted in a public forum

I’m being petty? I didn’t put the hosepipe ban in place. Some people can’t lift water and the chances are those people are exempt.

I want to know too

Yes, please tell us OP.

No, but only PSR customers who DO find it hard to use a watering can are exempt. Anglian water say you need to be on the register AND "unable to make reasonable adjustments because of a health condition or disability."

If you're on the psr cos you're Deaf for example, or cos your kid has a medical condition meaing you need to do multiple daily loads of laundry, or whatever, then you should be using watering cans.