If you are on a hosepipe ban, are you complying?

[FindingMeno]

Just curious really - if you are, will you continue to, whatever, even if it decimates everything? Is your garden small or big?

For transparency, I am ( grumpily) complying, but don't know what state the garden will be in before long, which makes me very sad. My garden is mid sized I would say.

Yes I’m complying but begrudgingly

This makes no sense to me. What is the difference filling a watering can from the tap and the hose other than the tap for me at least being further away to walk?

https://x.com/MartinGossCol/status/2086408227323793843?s=20

@Baileyss my question exactly but where I am in the South East we can't fill the water can from the hosepipe. I had to detach it from the tap and use that. Feckin ridiculous.

It’s such a ridiculously selfish and stupid argument to believe the restrictions shouldn’t apply to you because there are bigger leaks which the water companies aren’t stopping. Why should I?! Or that there will be unemployment for those who normally need to use hosepipes. These things won’t matter if there’s no treated water for human consumption. What part of this is difficult to understand?! Such privilege we have had as a developed country , we have no concept of the true meaning of drought or thirst. I can’t believe there is such stupidity amongst us…

https://x.com/RachelGilmourLD/status/2085712089100738585?s=20

So true!! If we have no rain we all suffer!!

I don’t know about wartime spirit exactly because I was born many years after the war, although I am a boomer (shock, horror and shame).

But it’s undoubtedly true that in 1976 people accepted the need to be careful with water and there was no question about it. There were jokes about having a bath and sharing the bath with someone else and there was a minister for drought. It was very much a pull together thing. Now, as you say, it really is everyone for themselves.

I think that was also during the pandemic. We wouldn’t get people complying again. As a species, we will take the consequences for that.

I have a large garden and several water butts which are now dry

Hosepipe ban

Will be using washing up water until it rains

This explains it ...................
https://www.dailymail.com/debate/article-16013973/LIBBY-PURVES-drought-declared-England-driving-Great-Hosepipe-Ban-Rebellion.html

https://www.pressreader.com/uk/daily-mail/20260730/281814290659353?srsltid=AfmBOooSkMfbaMMeRxLeKLh2BHq_4MZ8aikjZgaVNMncY1fG6ihmlXmS

I think the point is less wastage ie people will fill a watering can multiple times rather than spraying a hose about for longer than needed.

The watering can is more targeted

Bonnielassi, I was just talking to someone The other day about 1976 saying I wonder how the twice a day showering Mumsneters would cope with the water and actually being turned off to houses, and having to queue in the street and for water. I was actually pregnant I can also remember the 1957 draught

Bonnielassi, I was just talking to someone The other day about 1976 saying I wonder how the twice a day showering Mumsneters would cope with the water and actually being turned off to houses, and having to queue in the street and for water. I was actually pregnant I can also remember the 1957 draught

I have 3 big water butts and they have been empty for a month now. Usually I use the hosepipe very little as I also mulch a lot but this year is different, in the South.
I'm abiding by the ban with the exemption of topping up the pond for wildlife. It's taking about 90 minutes every other day to keep everything alive by watering can, I'd say I have a medim to large area.
Regarding the inept greedy water company, I'm thinking of billing them for the very large additional rainwater butt I'm going to be buying. Like others have said, I'm incredibly angry at being put in this position by them.

I mistrust the DM and don’t take my information from there. For me, the harsh reality that Wales - Wales! - has declared a drought brings home the seriousness.

Meanwhile, it's pouring down in Scotland

Yes. If we can help in whatever small way not to make a bad situation worse, then that works for me.

That’s a very interesting point. One of the predictions about climate changes is that social norms and cohesion will collapse.

I'm strictly complying. Our garden is very overlooked so we'd be spotted if we used a hosepipe. I've filled our paddling pool with a big trug bucket, which is allowed under the rules. We don't have plants that need watering.

I think we live in an individualistic society now, no community spirit, so the breakdown in cohesion won’t take long ☹️

My hosepipe is attached to my outdoor tap and I can't detach it without permanently messing up my anti-leak measures. So I am filling my watering can from my hose to water my tomatoes and green beans. I am not prepared to let them die, I harvest enough to keep me in toms and beans through the winter.

My sink is by the garden door. I wash and drain veg and rinse hands into my bowl, and throw that out on to everything else - preserving and using as much 'grey water' as possible.

This is as much about my water bills and the planet as I have no respect for Thames Water - their latest leakfest that created a massive fountain, closing a road and leaving households dry for days has now let water get into the gas supply and people's gas is cut off too. We are forced to pay for this terrible service.

We’re complying but lots of my neighbours aren’t. As soon as it’s dark, I can hear the hosepipes out.

I’m not complying. I’m generally a public spirited person, but there has been a leaking main in our town for three months now, unrepaired. If they can’t be arsed, neither can I. The bloody money they make in profits, it’s a disgrace.

one word: data centres