to fill up our small paddling pool?

[PeanutBellyJam]

Okay quick poll...who is going to fill their toddlers paddling pools? We put water into ours this morning, half filled and then I read an email from our water company thanking everyone for saving water and encouraging us to shower less and now I'm filled with guilt and shame. I feel like the neighbours are all going from behind their blinds 'look at those ignorant arseholes at number **' 🫣

We have a hosepipe ban coming in next week and honestly the amount of arrogant twats saying they're going to ignore because they 'pay for it' they're entitled to use what they want is frankly disgusting. See also the numerous leaks we've had as if that somehow makes it ok to water your lawn...

The fact is, if people continue with this attitude it'll get to a point, where I live anyway, where we won't have water to have a shower, make a cuppa etc, let alone paddling pools. The water company sent an email round recently saying something like 'one person's paddling pool is another person's drinking water'. Your unnecessary wants are taking it from someone's actual need from a very limited resource pool (pardon the pun).

We're on a hosepipe ban already 🤷

This thread is depressing. Maybe those wasting water will think twice if they have to collect every drop from a stand pipe, to flush the loo, wash clothes, wash themselves, cook with and make a cup of tea.

Non-'plenty of people will see that they have enough money to buy what they want

Do what you can, but when people can still take 20 cubic metres (20,000litres) daily out of rivers or boreholes without even having to declare it, your kids paddling pool really isn't the reason that your neighbours might be stood at standpipes no matter how judgy some MNers are.

Just reuse the water afterwards for plants or toilet flushing.

Yep. So much “You do u, hun x” – I’m assuming the car washers, dog paddling poolers (a dog paddling pool, FFS!) and lawn waterers are as blithely ignorant to the climate crisis that contributes to drought as to the drought itself.

Yes - see the suggestions of using bottled water instead

Because as with most things related to climate change, it is individual people that are bearing the burden of guilt when it is corporate and big users that are creating the biggest issue. Yes everyone should be careful but most people's ever tightening purses will already lead them to use less water, electricity and gas.

But filling a little kids paddling pool up once every few weeks isn't the main issue. Sure, if everyone in the country did it every week and just threw the water away it would create a problem, but not everyone has small kids or even a garden to put a paddling pool in. As long as it isn't refilled too often and the water is reused so that the net water use remains very similar (presumably kids won't need a shower or bath after a day in a paddling pool) it is not even going to approach the water usage of lets say garden centres, golf and bowls clubs and nurseries who all go under the radar.

I like the sheet over idea!

Aha! Yes water plants after with it...I'm feeling waaay less guilty with all these suggestions

Exactly.

So many people out to make individuals feel bad, but their use is nothing when you compare it to all the big guys - how much water do you think garden centres, golf courses, leisure centres etc. use up every day? Not to mention all the millions of litres wasted each day via leaks?

Aren't most people already metered?

Things like not flushing loos until it really needs it, doing dishes just once a day or in dishwasher, shorter showers, not washing clothes after every single use, and only filling kettle to the amount needed only all make a huge difference to consumption. A small kids paddling pool once in a blue moon doesn't.

I have lived in a hot country and am very aware of water usage, but there's a hierarchy of scale and it's the constant overuse that makes a big difference, not the occasional things.

I hadn't ever even thought about doing this in the paddling pool...we have a much bigger one that our older nieces have used when visiting might try this next summer to prolong the fill!

Yes! This! 🙌

Sure, there are businesses using way more water, but if everyone thought, 'oh, her next doors just filled the paddling pool, so why should I care about not watering the lawn, I'll just put the hose on for an hour', it just goes round in circles.

It's one of those instances where people obviously aren't going to take personal responsibility until it's too late.

Do you struggle with comprehension?

And there we have it.

Just go for it - we have for the dog!

BTW If people wash their cars it's good to stand your car on grass to do it. Will water the grass and the grass filters the pollutants - preventing them from going into surface water drainage which otherwise goes straight into a river near you.

We have a 12ft Intex one we filled in May thankfully. But I wouldn't judge if someone filled a paddling pool up to cool their kids down.

Unnecessary washing machine use is what I would roll my eyes at more.

Agree. Don’t know if people are stupid or just selfish. Either way it’s depressing.

Water leakage is a big problem but there will be a lot more water leaks than usual - ground shrinking due to drought conditions cracks pipes, so water companies are going to be even slower than usual. That doesn't mean that we can all just carry on as normal because our infrastructure is so crap.

There are two issues at the moment where drough conditions are emerging. One is a simple water shortage if conditions continue, which they look very likely to do so.

The other is that water companies are struggling to put water through the system fast enough. So if you are in an area without a hose pipe ban, but is getting very dry, the advice is obviously to use water wisely. But also to think about when you use it - try not to to use it during peak demand times, because that results in loss of water pressure. So if you are filling your toddlers paddling pool for instance, don't do it first thing in the morning or in the evening.

If you are in an area where there is a hose pipe ban, then I'm afraid filling paddling pools comes under that.

If you see elderly or vulnerable people using a hose pipe to water plants, don't go dobbing them in though- they may be on the priority services register. They are exempt from using hosepipes for their gardens.

SE waters FAQ is good. www.southeastwater.co.uk/about/updates/tubs-faqs

We live in the north and we haven’t even needed to water our grass all summer so I’ll be filling up the dog’s paddling pool when DH has cut the grass. There has to be some perks to our crappy weather right?

Our water company emailed yesterday to say that there is not a hosepipe ban in our area and they don’t expect to introduce one so I won’t be stopping watering the garden.

Oh and I am in the South, Hertfordshire.