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?

Tehre is a vast amount of in my view mostly false propaganda going on at present and paid advertorials in newspapers from the power companies trying to suggest smart meters are a good idea. They don't of course save money at all and have a lot of downsides. You have a legal right to refuse one.

Who claims that smart metres save you energy

British Gas, for a start ...

www.britishgas.co.uk/the-source/your-home/smarter-living/do-smart-meters-save-you-money

and htf would that work

You know, I've been asking myself the same question ....

No, they just register your readings so the energy providers can spy on what you use

You forgot remote disconnection ...

However, my rather sarky point stands. If we're supposed to welcome smart meters with open wallets because they "help us save energy", then why would a smart water meter not "help us save water" ?

And whilst smart meters for water might not save individual households much, they might save the **ing water companies a fortune in telling them how much water they're pissing away in unrepaired leaks.

LEGAL NOTE:

NOTHING IN THIS POSTING IS IN ANYWAY TO BE TAKEN AS ADVICE ON WATER OR ELECTRICITY MANAGEMENT. SPECIFICALLY, DO NOT TRY AND PLUG YOUR WATER SUPPLY INTO YOUR ELECTRICITY METER.

ha Ha, I love your legal notice.

I think they are being economic with the truth wrt smart metres.
You can watch how much consumption you are using and cut back, hence saving you money, but you can do this with a normal metre with the dials.
They also say you don't have to give metre readings, I know at least 500 people who would argue with this as it's their job to ask customers for them

I wouldn't have a water metre as a family of four it would cost a fortune. They are great if you are just a couple. Thought about it when we downsize and dc have gone.

I know a lot of people here speak from experience, but I do wonder how much we can rely on historical data as the climate changes.

I live in dorset. We have maybe had one decent day of rain in 6 weeks and quite a few days of being the hottest place in the uk during this spell. I can understand there being a water issue

Smart meters are all about future pricing policy and smarter supply grids. Essentially in future when everyone has smarts, you will pay more when demand is higher and less when demand is lower. They will never admit thats the key driver though.

I was in Cape Town a few weeks ago.
1 X 90 second shower per day ( timer on shower in hotel).
You were asked to buy bottled water at cost for the kettle, not use the tap.
2 X toilet flushes per day
Bath plugs removed
Taps in public places ( e.g. loos in shopping centres) turned off and replaced with hand sanitizer.
Grey water / rainwater tanks everywhere.
The brewery in Somerset East had been giving water to anyone who wanted to collect it ( own bore hole from aquifer under the mountain) but had to stop due to fights breaking out.
We need to think a bit more when we are using water, it's so easy to assume it will always be there, on tap and safe to drink.
I can remember 1976 with stand pipes from the springs on the hill and water bowsers driven in. Not sure if there was a hosepipe ban - would have been an academic excessive as there was no water in the taps where I lived!
My current house is fed from a spring, so no shortage of dinosaur water to drink.
If you have any food factories near by, they may well have damaged IBC that can be used as water buts, 1000 litre capacity and a handy tap.
Many also have plastic or metal drums from tomato paste and the like that are perfect as water buts.
A lot of the sites I visit give them to local allotment societies etc. if they aren't re-usable.

It’s annoying I agree as it’s rained ALL April

But noted

Right back to the can and brOwn lawn then

www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-birmingham-44750373

Failure to invest in water, electricity and gas infrastructure, selling off the 'nationalised' utilities for a 'fast buck' and making the whole setup dependent on 'profit'. All good Tory ideas.
Actually, putting the infrastructure under roads is a pretty stupid idea too as any maintenance work IMMEDIATELY messes up transport. Combined with the 'We must dig a hole as it is urgent, but then leave the hole unfilled for months for what reason exactly? If it's urgent, a SWOT team come in, do the job, FILL THE HOLE then leave.

On our road all of us have let our previously lush green lawns turn into straw- next door have their sprinkler on for length periods during day and guess what still have lovely green grass. Do get on with them but find their behaviour intensely selfish given it’s clear no one else is watering their grass as we have a water shortage- but they still feel they are somehow entitled to?