To fill my pool before the hosepipe ban starts?

[SooticaTheWitchesCat]

There is going to be a hosepipe ban in our area from April so AIBU to fill up my 8ft paddling pool now before the bans starts?

It has a cover and I can keep it clean through the summer with cleaning tablets and top up with a bucket if neccessary.

I just want my girls to be able to play in the water if it is a hot summer and I wont be able to fill it after the ban come into force.

But if I fill it now will that be cheating?

Might as well.

I'd call it planning ahead.

Technically it won't be cheating, but I would be extremely concerned about the hygiene aspect unless it has a proper filtration/cleaning system.

You do realise we are going to get the rainiest wetist summer ever, purely because they have announced a hosepipe ban

You do realise we are going to get the rainiest wetist summer ever, purely because they have announced a hosepipe ban

NOOOOOOOOO!!!!

Fill it! I'm spending tomorrow cleaning the patio and decking before the ban comes in. Pretty sure a lot of people will be doing the same.

Do it. Hosepipe bans are so bloody ridiculous. My washing machine uses more water than 15 minutes playing in the sprinkler.

Whilst it would be nice for your children to play in water if it's hot but to be honest there are much greater priorities such as drinking water and water for crops.

Obviously you won't be using that much water yourself but if everyone starts topping up their paddling pools with a bucket it becomes a much bigger drain on a precious resource.

Why not just take them to an outdoor pool or to the beach.

You'll have to be aware of idiotic neighbours who might decide to 'report' you for using your own water - will the water people believe that you filled the pool months ago?
You could scatter some apple blossom about I suppose, and say 'look, look, it's been there since spring!

Yes that's right everyone hosepipe bans are just brought in to piss you off

I'm looking forward to all of the threads later in the year where you all whinge about how expensive food is as a result of there not being enough water for the farmers to produce their crops resulting in heavy reliance on expensive imports.

we had this exact same conversation last night... and yes, we will be filling ours! (its got a filter and stuff, works on salt water principle so no nasty chemicals).

on the other hand, I am not doing flower pots or planting veg this year and the children don't wash that much.

I agree thenightsky

go for it.
but when the water situation gets so bad you have a standpipe in the street. don't moan

No, it's what you're supposed to do - that's why they have given us warning

I am trying to get hold of as many water butts/bins to be able to fill them on my allotment. Now allotments are supposed to be exempt but some water companies are trying to say they're not.

There is no way I'm going to let the £140 worth of plants I've bought die - I'm perfectly happy to water by can but I need to fill the butts first as the water is inaccesible for a can but I can screw a hosepipe to it.

Of course the problem is at the moment that they haven't even turned the water on yet after winter........

Are hosepipe bans a southern thing?

Yuck. That water will be disgusting by the end of the summer. If your area is about to put in place a hosepipe ban, it isn't just to inconvenience your children or you.

well water companies need to start fixing their leaks first

YABU.

There is a water shortage. Hence the hosepipe ban.

And there would be less of a shortage of water if people didn't use it in such ridiculous quantities with their daily washing of towels after one use etc.

Yabu. Seems selfish imo. You know there is a hosepipe ban coming, it's still the same amount of water whether you do it before or after. I find this attitude rather depressing.

Knew it would be only a few posts before someone said the word "leaks".

One aspect of my job (in the environmental and sustainability field) recently has been some research into the impact of climate change and population growth on water availabilty, prices and the percentage of the population that is going to be affected by water poverty. This is going to be a really serious issue for the UK, and not just in the south east.

Lamzig, yes it will, and doubly and triply so because of the way culture has gone since the last serious drought i.e. that everyone is now a customer and aware of their consumer rights. This is what happens when you privatise a natural and unreliable resource like rain and make it into a business. People think - I pay for it, so I should be able to use as much as I like.

When they get to the stage of putting standpipes in the streets, what happens to places like care homes and hospitals? Do they turn the mains water on or off for individual streets or areas? And is it then off for days or weeks at a time or for short periods?

Absolutely Ariel and before long we are certainly going to see a strong move towards metering and price increases like we have seen with energy bills which will, as usual, have a greater affect on the less well off.