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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

to think people who continue to use hosepipes are idiots

58 replies

oohlordylordy · 05/04/2012 11:29

How difficult can it be?

COllect water in a water but or bucket for the garden, use left over dishwashing water, or even water from the bath for watering the garden.

Bathwater or a bucket of water for the car.

Yes, it's a bit more hassle, but there is a hosepipe ban. In april. For a reason.

I think those people who are saying 'well, I don't see why I shouldn't use it' are no better than people who chuck rubbish out of their cars because they don't see why they should take it home with them.

GRRR

OP posts:

HettyKett · 05/04/2012 11:30

YANBU. Obviously.

Catsdontcare · 05/04/2012 11:31

I agree MIL phoned me two days ago to remind me to jet was our patio and paths before the ban

I think jet washing patios is a monumental waste of time and water at the best of times let alone when there is a drought.

ChaoticAngel · 05/04/2012 11:35

There isn't a ban here but I've no intention of using one anyway. The last thing I want is things growing in my garden atm. Where there is a ban, then no, they shouldn't be using one so YANBU

Pandemoniaa · 05/04/2012 11:37

YANBU. I'm astonished at the lack of awareness from people who will be the first to jump up and down and screech about their human rights if we end up having to get water from standpipes.

There are many ways to wash cars and water gardens by using waste water or getting a water butt to collect such rain that falls. But it may well be that in some areas of the UK, we have to get used to treating water like a more precious resource and adapt accordingly. It is possible to take advantage of climatic change and plant a Mediterranean garden, for example, or accept that there's really no need to jet wash everything in sight.

Pandemoniaa · 05/04/2012 11:39

PS. I write as someone who lives somewhere that is affected by the hosepipe ban.

DodieSmith · 05/04/2012 11:46

Yes, you may be affected. But are you a keen gardener?

Original poster

oohlordylordy · 05/04/2012 11:50

I am affected and yes, I have a large and colourful garden. We have just installed another water butt in the garden to collect any water and have sourced a suitable bubble bath for the children's baths so we can use the water from their baths to water the garden. I also bought the children a watering can each from the £ shop so they can help out.

OP posts:

EasterBummy · 05/04/2012 11:53

I saw Asda car wash jet washing cars today and I thought the hosepipe ban went into effect as of last night!?
I don't know why people are so bothered about washing their cars and jet washing the drive...it's not that important! It's like panic buyers...

WorraLiberty · 05/04/2012 11:54

No hosepipe ban here so if we get any decent weather, I'll be using it twice a week to fill the pool.

I'm not fussed about the garden though

2shoes · 05/04/2012 11:55

yanbu

Debsbear · 05/04/2012 11:57

You need to get special bubble bath before you can water the garden with bath water?? Oops!! I don't think people should ignore the ban but I do think we should be protesting about the water companies that have sold off reservoirs for a quick profit, which have now been built over and are wasting water left right and centre through leaks etc. These are the real criminals, not the person who sneeks a paddling pool full of water. Seriously, it is going to take the same amount of water to fill a paddling pool whether I use a hosepipe or a bucket!!?? Yes, watering the lawn with a hosepipe is a complete waste of water but some things are just daft.

Original poster

oohlordylordy · 05/04/2012 11:58

hahaha @ Worra - you've just cursed it now and it'll rain all summer over your house

OP posts:

Original poster

oohlordylordy · 05/04/2012 12:00

Debsbear - A lot of bubble baths have quats (quaternary ammonium compounds) in them which can be harmful to plants and aquatic life even in small quantities.

I don't suppose the amount present in a bath would be harmful, but I took the decision to find a quat free bubble bath (they are not so bubbly!)

I am a gardener and a chemist!

OP posts:

WorraLiberty · 05/04/2012 12:01

hahaha @ Worra - you've just cursed it now and it'll rain all summer over your house

I'll duck under the water to keep dry

2shoeskickedtheeasterbunny · 05/04/2012 12:01

why would anyone use a paddling pool if we have a water shortage? (genuine question as this baffles me)

Original poster

oohlordylordy · 05/04/2012 12:01

ANd, I think the point is, actually, you will (i) think twice about filling the paddling pool if you have to do with buckets and (ii) will probably use less water because you are bored of filling buckets

OP posts:

Petrean · 05/04/2012 12:02

I genuinely don't get hosepipes, I've never owned one nor ever needed one. Car is washed at car washes... Garden plants are watered only when desperately needed and then with a watering can.

People are so wasteful with water in this country.

OutragedAtThePriceOfFreddos · 05/04/2012 12:03

Yab a little U.

We do need to conserve water, obviously. None of us want to be in a situation where we have to have standpipes so we have no choice. But I can easily understand why people who love making use of their garden want it to look clean and pretty with flowers. We pay a lot of money for water, many people are on meters so pay for every drop they use, and then they get told they can't use that water when they want even though it could all be saved if they sorted out the leaks.

Yes, I know that will cause a groan as I come out with the standard complaint, but it's true.

You don't have to be register disabled (and therefore able to ignore the ban) to find it very difficult to transfer water from a butt or a bath into the garden.

Personally it makes no difference to me because I don't do gardening, but if I did, I would find it quite irritating that I could have 20 full on power showers a day if I wanted but I couldnt water my garden.

Debsbear · 05/04/2012 12:03

oohlordylordy, might explain why I've never managed to even keep a houseplant alive for more than a week! . (Not that I usually water them with bath water, just that I have no idea about plants!)

ApocalypseCheeseToastie · 05/04/2012 12:03

I live in Cumbria, we earn the right to use hosepipes year round

WorraLiberty · 05/04/2012 12:04

We don't have a water shortage and they've predicted that we won't have one either.

Obviously if we did, I wouldn't be filling the pool.

On the plus side, the kids spend literally all day in it with the dog too so that's a couple of baths they won't need to be having

BlackOutTheSun · 05/04/2012 12:05

car wash places are still allowed to use a hosepipe.

the disabled are still allowed to use a hosepipe

if you have a pond with fish/newts in you are allowed to use a hosepipe

you can still water your garden, fill the paddling pool, clean the car but you have to use buckets

OutragedAtThePriceOfFreddos · 05/04/2012 12:06

The other thing is that the water companies don't even bother to inform their paying customers that there is a hosepipe ban, and I think that is just rude and bad service. I wouldn't even know there was supposed to be a hosepipe ban if I hadn't read it on here. I only ever read the news I'm interested in on the Internet. Yet if I break the ban I could get a £1000 fine, when no one has even bothered to tell me about it.

cantspel · 05/04/2012 12:07

I am a keen gardener with a large garden and on a hose pipe ban but it wont make any difference to me as i dont use the hose to water the garden anyway as i am on a water metre. I have 3 large water butts each with a seperate large water container attached to take any overspill and plenty of mulch.

I will mulch all the established plants to conserve moisture in the soil and only water the baskets and a couple of tubs. You dont need to water established plants and can do more harm than good as rather than the roots going down to seek what moisture there is in the soil they will come upwards after the watering water.

WorraLiberty · 05/04/2012 12:09

Outraged It's probably best to check with your water company unless the people on MN live in your area and use the same company as you.

A few years back, my Dad who lives 20 minutes away from me had a hosepipe ban but we didn't (different water companies)

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