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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Hosepipe

32 replies

DireStraights · 14/08/2022 18:37

My neighbours went out 5 hours ago and have left the sprinklers on.

We get on really well. We are often in each other’s garden watering plants (when it’s not a drought) grabbing each other’s footballs, kids play in either garden together, feeding pets etc

My husband wants to go and turn sprinkler off. I’m weighing it up. I can’t actually believe they have done it as it very selfish but I can’t deal with any conflict.

what would you do?

OP posts:
bigknickersbigknockers · 14/08/2022 18:45

Id mind my own business

BlackbirdsSinging · 14/08/2022 18:47

bigknickersbigknockers · 14/08/2022 18:45

Id mind my own business

Climate change. Drought. Water shortage. It’s surely everyone’s business. These neighbours are not thinking of others.
Turn off the sprinklers OP.

Mamamia7962 · 14/08/2022 18:48

I'd go and turn them off and if they say anything say you thought they'd left it on by mistake. Are they on a water meter?

RampantIvy · 14/08/2022 18:49

bigknickersbigknockers · 14/08/2022 18:45

Id mind my own business

Typical mumsnet reaction Hmm

I have seen how empty our reservoirs are, so I know how the OP feels.

GordonBennetttt · 14/08/2022 18:50

Mamamia7962 · 14/08/2022 18:48

I'd go and turn them off and if they say anything say you thought they'd left it on by mistake. Are they on a water meter?

I'd do exactly this.

Carrieonmywaywardsun · 14/08/2022 18:52

Mamamia7962 · 14/08/2022 18:48

I'd go and turn them off and if they say anything say you thought they'd left it on by mistake. Are they on a water meter?

Exactly

woodhill · 14/08/2022 18:58

It is selfish of them

We haven't had a ban but we have stopped using ours and try to preserve water as much as possible

Yes turn it off

lljkk · 14/08/2022 18:59

Turn off from me!!

I've never seen sprinklers in Britain.

Riapia · 14/08/2022 18:59

Why not break into her house while you are there and smash her washing machine and dishwasher at the same time?
That’ll show ‘em.

Sunnyqueen · 14/08/2022 19:02

Riapia · 14/08/2022 18:59

Why not break into her house while you are there and smash her washing machine and dishwasher at the same time?
That’ll show ‘em.

Brilliant 🤣

lot123 · 14/08/2022 19:02

If there's not a hosepipe ban in your area, I'd do nothing.

Actually, I wouldn't do anything even if there was as I like my neighbours and I wouldn't want to sour the relationship by telling them off. Then again, my neighbours are unlikely to be offenders.

ClareBlue · 14/08/2022 19:07

You don't need a hosepipe ban to preserve water.
Why would anyone be offended that someone switched a sprinkler off after 5 hours of use.

Babymamaroon · 14/08/2022 19:13

We're not under a ban but are conserving water in every way imaginable other than using the hose to water some desperate plants. We've reduced showering time to pretty much 2 minutes, use all kitchen water for the garden and aim to not waste a drop.

You don't what they're sacrificing in order to be able to ensure their plants don't die. That said, 5 hours is ridiculously excessive and the chances are they have forgotten to switch them off!

Original poster
DireStraights · 14/08/2022 19:14

That’s what my husband wants do
they’re still on.

OP posts:
Longtimeposternc · 14/08/2022 19:15

Yesssssssssss
the first hosepipe thread! 🎉🎉

Sparklfairy · 14/08/2022 19:17

They probably forgot to turn them off before they went out. Just go and turn them off.

ZooMount · 14/08/2022 19:17

Tbh if they have genuinely left sprinklers on for 5 hours and you are regularly in each other's gardens I would go and turn them off and if they ask just say you thought it might have been a mistake. 5 hours is a long time, maybe it is a mistake. If you just went straight over and did it I would say you were out of order. If there is no hosepipe ban you're not really under any obligation to use your water differently, even if you disagree with it.

RampantIvy · 14/08/2022 19:20

bigknickersbigknockers · 14/08/2022 18:45

Id mind my own business

It becomes all of our businesses when there isn't enough water to go around Hmm. Our hosepipe ban comes into force on 26th August.

NumberTheory · 14/08/2022 19:21

They’ve been on for 5 hours?

I would switch them off and then tell your neighbours you did so and assumed they had left them on by accident.

pannikin · 14/08/2022 19:28

Are you under a hosepipe ban? Ours doesn't come into place until the 26th so I'm still using ours until then...

WinterMusings · 14/08/2022 19:28

Don't you have their mobile numbers?

I have my neighbours, so I'd text to say you'd just noticed that their sprinklers were still
on, would they like me to turn them off?

IncompleteSenten · 14/08/2022 19:30

Like pp I would turn them off and if they ask about it, tell them you noticed they'd left them on and thought it was by mistake.

RampantIvy · 14/08/2022 19:32

pannikin · 14/08/2022 19:28

Are you under a hosepipe ban? Ours doesn't come into place until the 26th so I'm still using ours until then...

I'm not. I live in reservoir country and have seen just how low they are. We have put our hosepipe in the garage and have put a washing up bowl in the sink to catch any water that we use to wash fruit and vegetables. It's astonishing just how much water we use. This water gets put on the flower beds and into the pots containing plants and flowers.

Creameggs223 · 14/08/2022 19:36

Do you have a hosepipe ban? If not then butt out their doing nothing wrong if so turn it off and make sure they are aware of the ban when you see them.

HMSSophia · 14/08/2022 19:39

pannikin · 14/08/2022 19:28

Are you under a hosepipe ban? Ours doesn't come into place until the 26th so I'm still using ours until then...

Well fucking stop it now. What's the point? Your lawn or plants can die off now or later. The pending ban is not an invitation to use as much as you can now. It's a fucking heads up that this resource is SCARCE.