My Parents are a bit selfish don't you think?

[waterlegoblocks]

My Parents live in an area where the water companies have set messages to everyone telling them not to use hosepipes over the coming days due to the extreme heat. When I spoke to my parents earlier they said they are still going to use the hosepipe as they pay a lot of money for water usage and if they are not going to receive a discount for being told not to use water they are going to carry on using it as they like to water their garden most days during the Summer.

Let them at it. Water companies are releasing sewage into UK’s coastline while charging a fortune for water usage. They are making huge profits and not maintaining the infrastructure.

We have been asked not to use hosepipes and sprinklers too. It does feel a little unfair as I live alone and use minimal water whilst next door is a family of six - hot tub, paddling pool, slip & slide, car washing and, I assume, six showers every day. I'm using a watering can for my little pots and vegetables, I don't know if that's cheating but I'm doing it anyway.

Our garden is an insect paradise. We will use waste water as much as possible and were using rain water until it ran out, but the plants are getting watered. Especially the ones that provide things I eat. Will compromise on leaving the lawn, and meanwhile the useless pieces of shit in charge of the monopolistic water company can fucking do something about the leaks.

Absolutely agree with this. World leaders and the rich and famous flying private or business class all over the world, yet the cats bum mouths come out over someone watering their garden. Let's hope no one's filling a paddling pool for their toddlers, eh?

They're quite right- masses of water lost every year due to broken cracked and leaking pipes whilst water companies are raking it in. Start with the bigger issues first I say!

Do they have a water meter? If so, their usage will be logged. Perhaps they could have a water butt to collect water during rainy weather so that they will have access to that source of water when the weather is dry. The short answer is, yes, they are being selfish. In 1976, many people watered their plants with water from washing up or after having a (shared) bath, so it was reused rather than straight from the mains water supply. 1976 was a long, hot summer...

Don't know whether to or

What the hell has that got to do with anything?

Does that go for everyone who has a tub, a pool or a paddling pool. Gardens are very precious to some people who don't waste water in other ways. I expect many families use more water daily than some who water their precious garden.
It balances out maybe.

This ^

Hahaha it’s been sunny for just over a week, it rains most of the year. Perspective needed

Agree. Insects and other animals will be desperate for water!

You can still water your garden, just not with a hose pipe.

Use washing up water, bath water, a watering can, put a bucket in the shower when you shower and then use that, you'll be surprised how much it can catch. Same cleaning your teeth (bowl rather than bucket).
I keep a bowl in the kitchen sink and whenever I wash my hands, rinse a mug, run the tap a bit before filling a glass - all that run off water sits there and at the end of the day I water my pots with it.

What on earth has that to do with anything.

My lovely next door neighbours were brexiteers. I can guarantee you they won't use their's if there is a ban.

Your family could offset this by all skipping your shower tomorrow and having a wipe with flannel instead. Then you'd be extremely virtuous.

What the hell has that got to do with anything?

This. Please do answer how they are connected.

I'm growing my own vegetables & fully intend to keep watering them although I use a watering can not a hose. However, I have no problem with other people using a hose. I will start to object to the use of hoses when all of society is forced into water saving rather than water companies expecting ordinary citizens to be the only ones to make the sacrifice. How much water do you think that the so called 'royal' residences use or other elitists? How much of our precious water is sold abroad? It takes about 5000 litres to produce one small beef burger, people do not need to eat meat to obtain protein. In comparisan a portion of almonds takes less than a100 litres.

I think people need to be thinking about planting more for drought conditions. Our back garden faces south. The lawn is going brown and crispy and I can't keep up with watering my pots so do you know what, I'm just going to let them die. And next year I will think more carefully about whether I need pots and if I do have them, I will plant only drought resistant plants.

It really doesn't in most parts. It has got drier in general. Reservoirs are running low.

I have two large waterbutts. (I need a third).

I have enough water to last me to Tuesday nights thunderstorms.

Genuinely, there shouldnt be a need for a hosepipe if you plan carefully and conserve water.

Yes I can understand the points of view that (a) the water companies waste millions of gallons of water every year though leaks and (b) industry is responsible for most pollution and climate change.

But you still don't waste water and you don't need to water a lawn (if you had it laid this time of year, more fool you). And you can do plants with a watering can.

In my parents town there are 2 pipes pissing water all over the street. One of them has been like that for 2.5 years! There's now algae and weeds growing all over the path where the leak is, it can no longer be used. A second has been pissing water for about 6 months. It is unbelievable waste! The way to save water is for companies to actually maintain the pipe network rather than pin the blame on the comparably tiny amount used by private households, even those watering gardens.

We lived abroad for a number of years...we got most of our water from the mountains...sometimes it ran out and we had to buy it in and fill our tank...it really taught us to be scrooge like and careful..we used all our grey water for the garden and had loads of butt's which filled occasionally with rain water. As a country we do waste water showering and brushing teeth - ie letting the water run away during the course ..having said that our local underground pipes are forever leaking and the water board takes ages to deal with the issue..

Not considering the younger generation in your decision making?

WhileMyGuitarGentlyWeeps
Your obviously not a gardener. Spraying plants with a dilution of washing up liquid for pests is a very old remedy.