AIBU to be angry about hosepipe bans and whether people will comply?

[liquidfinch]

AIBU to be so angry about the hosepipe bans and the situation we find ourselves in?!

If we keep having these heatwaves AND hosepipe bans the future is going to become utterly unbearable.

I read somewhere that it's not even about us running out of water this year! The water companies are just worried about having to supply what we need because it will impact their environmental targets (they want to reduce water use per capita).

If they don't hit these targets it could reduce their bonuses and/or they might be fined.

These bans will have enormous adverse impacts on nature and ecosystems.

If we can't water our gardens, plants and parks wildlife will suffer. Pollinators especially. I think it's appalling.

Are you ready for the hosepipe ban?

Have you taken any measures (buying water butts, filling up pools) to mitigate the impact this will have on your normal routine/enjoyment of your home/garden/life?

Most importantly: are you going to comply?

• Cambridge Water:

Active as of July 9, and enforceable from 1am on Friday, July 17.

• Southern Water:

Enforced starting from 1am on July 11.

• South East Water:

Enforced starting from July 18.

Sorry I thought you knew what you were talking about, you sounded very sure of what you were saying.

I remember reading starmer had approved the use of something we shoot into the sky to reflect the sun away its temporary and would solve part of this issue why are we not using it?

I won’t comply and won’t feel bad about it at all. As others said, why should I let my garden die and forgo the paddling pool when it’s down to pure mismanagement and incompetence on the part of the water companies. The UK has more than enough rain throughout the year that this shouldn’t be an issue.

you can use a small jug?
this is how some people get round it who cannot manage a watering can

We're similar, 4 water butts for the garden, don't water the lawn (and don't cut it short), basin to run the tap into if we need hot water so the run off can be used in cooking, to make a cuppa, to water the garden etc. Washing machine run off is used to clean sinks or wash windows.

We lived in Australia for years, and experienced proper drought conditions so will not waste water if we can help it.

We need to plant for the climate that is coming in, not the climate we used to have. I changed up my front garden which is south facing to med style planting last year, and I haven't watered it once this year. It's thriving and absolutely full of insects.

i dont have a hose but i would not use it in a hose pipe ban.
plant your garden with drought resistant plants, dont bury your head in the sand regarding climate change and lack of rain

No new reservoir has been built since the 1990s, but we have hundreds of thousands of new houses.

We have two standard water butts and a 1000 litre IBC in our garden for watering the garden.

If you think that washing your car and watering your garden with a hose is better for wildlife than having water in the river then you're crazy. Farmers have need of water for crops, we need water in the taps, everything else can wait. Perhaps people in the SE need to invest a bit more in reservoirs?

That sounds amazing - what kind of company did you get to do this? Should be a legal requirement for all new builds!!!

People in dry countries have to be careful with water all the time. I actually object to people using perfectly good drinking water to put a sprinkler on their garden all night so it looks like a bowling green (I know there’s a lot of middle ground though). We try to be careful with leftover washing up water, running the tap into a vessel while we wait for it to run hot/cold as necessary and using water buts for the garden. We all need to play our part

No, I wouldn't comply. I have an acre of garden and only two taps, one at either end. I use only the amount of water I'd use if using a watering can, I count as I water to ensure that's what I'm doing. I only water vulnerable plants. But I'm fucked if my plants will die because the water companies want to make a profit. Obviously if there was no water I would comply.

This just sounds rather unhygienic tbh. I’d rather use my hosepipe

I got my plumber to do it when he upgraded our bathroom. The extra pipework and water butts cost about £600 at the time. It isn't hi-tech, it's a basic gravity fed system.

It's paid for itself several times over.

I don’t think we’ll be getting one, but I would be annoyed if we did. I’d comply but I’m in Scotland where the stuff pishes out the sky constantly for most of the year and the mismanagement by water companies is galling

It is paramount that we ensure that our trees (and lawns) can be watered.

"Trees in the countryside don't get watered and manage absolutely fine"

1. the uk is not 100% countryside
2. either way, "manage absolutely fine" is wrong:

https://www.sciencefocus.com/nature/why-do-trees-have-such-shallow-root-systems

https://www.treesuk.com/news/the-impact-a-dry-summer-can-have-on-trees/

I could post more of these but I'm not sure you're going to read them?

Trees also reduce the impact of the heatwaves by creating cooler air below the canopy.

I cant grip well enough and would end up spilling it, i cant keep it steady or have the strength to hold it. A small jug would take me hours and hours and hours even if I could use it.

Because whatever the reason for the lack of water, it won't magic up more?

The east of England has rainfall similar to a semi arid country. It's a very dry part of the country at the best of times.

We have a koi fish pond so we are exempt, I’d be using the hose pipe anyway tbh.

Sounds lovely. However they might struggle later this year if it gets cold and rainy (I trust you will prepare for that in various ways. Good luck!!)

We didn’t have one even last year when everyone else seemed to, sw so not “up north” even. Writers to your water company and mp about future plans to expand supply

It doesn't take a magician to fix the leaky pipes!

It's undoubtedly people like you that are the problem. People do 10 + washes a week and have 3 showers a day. No wonder our resources are under pressure. It's utterly ridiculous. . .

Without you giving me details of your pension and pension provider, I can't help further. I mean if you want to give me all your details then by all means I'll log into your account and have a look, but from here on out this is really something you have to do yourself.

😂have you considered a career in stand up comedy?