Hosepipe ban... really!?

[NotTakenUsername]

So, we lose days of learning in the winter (most winters now - I understand it didn’t use to be so often.)

Now, we can’t use our water supply when we most need it!

We’ve had floods this year. Floods!!

AIBU to be pissed off that just as the kids finish school with dreams of lazy days spent with the paddling pool getting full use, our shitty infrastructure lets us down once again?

Just how on earth can the UK have a water shortage when it rains all the time?

because the job of the water companies is to deliver maximum profit to shareholders. So investment, and spending money on infrastructure are very much a nuisance to be avoided wherever possible.

Anyway, the UK doesn't have a water shortage, just an greed surplus. There's enough fresh water poured away from the Keilder dam in a day that would supply London and the SE for a week.

The obvious - but costly - option would be to build a fuck off big pipe north to south, and send the unwanted water there. Would be a shit load more useful to more people (and cheaper) than HS2.

Too many people on this island, unfortunately.

Bollocks. They're just in the wrong place. You want a secure water supply ? Don't live in the South.

The big fuck off pipe wouldn't help because it's a shortage of treated water, not water per se.

It doesn't rain all the time, people just like to complain about the weather here

Just how on earth can the UK have a water shortage when it rains all the time?

because we employ the same bright sparks to manage water, our NHS, our train companies etc. Sometimes they even come up with some semi-decent excuses.

As a PP has said, there is no shortage, so to complain that we get lots of rain so shouldn't have a hosepipe ban is illogical.

I think there should be some sort of separate water supply for garden and toilet flush water that doesn't use drinking water. Its such a waste of resources. But to implement such would probably be a massive drain on resources too.

Also, if you are in an area that does have a hosepipe ban on, there's nothing to stop you from using a watering can or buckets to fill your paddling pool/water plants/have a water fight if you feel like it. Its just that hosepipes tend to use more to do the same job (exemption being the filling of a container e.g. pool, obvs.) same way running a bath uses more than having a shower. They should have a bath ban!!! There we go, problem solved.

Some places in the world don't have access to any clean water and here you are moaning your kids can't go in a paddling pool!?

I get this, I really do. But it’s akin to telling a child they must eat their dinner because there are starving children all over the world.

There are areas that suffer drought for years - but that does not apply to the uk. A bit of planning and investment in extreme weather conditions could work wonders.

Im genuinely disappointed for them. They have been coming home from school and getting right in. Sometimes there are about 8 kids in the pool at once! I was looking forward to them getting the full day out of it, in and out, ham sandwiches for lunch, an ice lolly here and there. Maybe a walk round to the shop for a slush puppy! Yes I know these are privileges - but them not having that does not help the children who don’t have access to clean water.

I don’t think the context you are trying to give is valid.

Sigh. Greeny head on again. Resources are not infinite.

Whether a local area's water company can keep up with demand depends on many factors, principally: what sort of reserves they've got; the rate at which water is being used; how much rain and how much hot weather there's been recently.

Currently there is a heatwave on and some areas haven't had appreciable rain for ten weeks.

You live in a country in which, if the water supply to your house is cut off, or is unfit to drink, even for an hour, you will be informed of it and there will be profuse apologies. On a global and historical scale you are incredibly fortunate.

www.hosepipeban.org.uk/hosepipe-ban-current-situation/

Seriously? We have flooding every winter here, doesn't change the fact that there is a need to conserve water in the summer. Water restrictions are put in place every year where I live, it is a precious resource and your lawn is just going to have to deal with it.

Car washes would be the first thing i'd close down for water shortages if i was in charge

Thanks for that link Draughty

Agree with Althea. I am in my 20s, and we have only had water restrictions once during my memory. We are in almost perpetual drought, yet manage to make it work (though we are more conservative with water - dual flush toilets, tougher grass, turning the tap off while brushing teeth, only watering in the mornings and evenings etc).

because it's a shortage of treated water, not water per se.

In which case it's treatment plants that are needed ?

When the people of Northumberland complain of a water shortage, it's serious ....

Its not her garden she wants it for, it's for a kids paddling pool sarah

And yes it is comparable..... it's not even another country,as I've already said op.... it's this country. Homeless and animals....here....

If you have other plants that are suffering use your water butt and a watering can. Not everyone HAS a water butt

There is no shortage of water. But demand is exceeding supply. This happens when rate of supply is built around the fact that most people don't normally run sprinklers because it rains all the time!

That is an interesting take and I hadn’t considered that. But it is also an infrastructure failure, nonetheless.

Dear DGRosseti, they didn’t buy a valley, they stole a valley and in the 50’s the scousers stole another one. A great uncle of mine lost his home twice when this happened and when he sought to protest, the residents of Liverpool spat at him in the street.

I’m not particularly nationalist but the Vyrnwy and Tryweryn dams are still a sore point, I hope the water in those dams tastes ever so slightly bitter because it still leaves a bitter taste on this side of the border.

I had a text yesterday morning from my water company saying that supply was fine but it takes time to treat the water - so don't use sprinklers!

Nothing wrong with wanting to fill a paddling pool for children IMO.

Shrug. I grew up in the SE and I am ancient. Hot summers and no bans throughout my childhood. What else has changed?

I grew up in London, and there was usually a ban at some point in summer - certainly in the 90s before I left.

Never known one in Birmingham. But then having it's own dedicated lake might explain something ?

I remember a huge number of these bans, particularly I think 1977 when we were advised to do things like flush the loo once a day etc etc.

We don't have a ban yet here and i think the stocks are not too bad although my grass is brown and dead in most places.