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.

Look at Raincatcher for flat ones that attach to the side of your house. A bit pricey but a good use of space. The traditional ones are round barrels so stick.out more, but if you have the space then they are good value.

I have a simple gutter on a sloped roof into a traditional barrel type on the garden shed. Then a couple of Raincatcher 200l slimline tanks that connect to the down pipe on the house.

Though as I said, they have now run out after being full from the thunderstorms a few weeks ago. I need to add to them, this is only going to get worse.

@BlueMum16thanks, I just water my pots

Because most of us can understand that it's possible to disagree with the way water companies are structured and managed, and also accept we have a responsibility for the way we use a scarce resource.

You are right, we should push for re-nationalisation and investment into technologies.

Flooding and waste water is impacted by the growth in housing and our changing lifestyles.

Back in the 80s people had lawns that soaked away the rain, now we have patios, driveways and even fake grass. We're building houses, businesses and roads massively which all reduces where the surface water can drain and be absorbed naturally. More houses and roads puts surface water into the sewer (which were originally designed for sewage only and not sewage.

More houses and population means more showers, more toilet flushes, more going down the drain and the sewers were built over 100 years ago and weren't designed to cope with this mean people.

I know in my area they are improving sewers and creating storage to hold the waste going forwards so it can be be processed over a few days and hopefully avoid flooding. We got a letter explaining it with this year's bill in the hope to explain the increase in my bill.

Of course we’d comly. Unless the pond needed water as I didn’t want to kill the fish.

Posting to say of course I’m going to bloody comply and am truly amazed that anyone won’t.

Now heading over to @Whynottryagain’s positive action on water conservation thread.

I assume the rules are pretty standard, across the different water companies, but for Southern Water, you must be a Blue Badge holder, a registered WaterSure customer, or be on their Priority Services Register.
You must also have a mobility or health condition that physically prevents you from using a watering can or bucket

As an aside, if you are disabled, it's well worth getting yourself on your water company's Priority Service Register. Quite apart from hosepipe bans, it means that if there are any interruptions in supply, they should bring you a supply of bottled water to tide you over, rather than you having to get yourself to a local collection point.

It’s baffling that people are talking about running out of water when our winters are so very wet. It’s just not stored or processed well enough and the money isn’t being used to replace pipes etc to meet the increasing pressure on them.
England’s just had its 8th wettest winter on record.

Just bear in mind you need to think about what materials your roof is made of. For example if you have any lead on your roof you don't use that water for crops

That's pretty rare, surely? Most people will have tiles.

And even then, the rainwater can be used for all the other needs of the garden.

I disagree with the way you have framed it but either way it's 50 50 so there is no "most of us" at the moment

Well you clearly can be arsed cant you with your angry post!! Water is here for us to use, did you not learn about the water cycle in primary school?

I won’t comply unless they drastically reduce my bill to compensate.

Ok, I’ve googled about the exemption for people with disabilities. You either need a blue badge or be signed up for your water company’s priority service for people with disabilities. So I’ve signed up for that and can now use a hosepipe in a ban. 👍. I do have a diagnosed condition which affects my mobility so am eligible.

I comply, I have 3 water butts for a small garden. I throw the washing up water onto the grass. I lived overseas where water was a precious commodity, so I use it quite sparingly. When I see people pressure washing a patio I always feel a little sad.

My water pipes are lead 🫣😆. I drink the stuff never mind water the veg with it.

Oh...

I’m meant to run the tap for five mins every morning but have never bothered. Lived here 30 years and no sign of lead poisoning yet.

They’re raised up (front garden is above street level) so the soil is free draining which is the key criteria. I also used a few species that self seed easily. No losses so far. I used a mix of salvias, nepeta, grasses (Seslaria, sporobolous, Stipa), santolina, Stachys, and then allowed teasel, foxgloves, and lychnis to self seed. Then alliums and muscari. It’s all knitted together really well. I’m moving away from having pots except really big ones.

I will use a hosepipe regardless of any ban. Especially given my water company ignored a mains water leak on our high street for 13 days.

They can’t police the bans. There’s literally nothing they can do. It relies on neighbours reporting each other and there being an immediate response which is unlikely!

Water companies and the government need to set it out themselves. Turning a blind eye to data centres consuming huge amounts of water.

Don't be daft.

Five minutes?!

Wonder how many properties in the UK need to do this and how much water is wasted that way (even if most don't bother).

Did you know you might be able to get grants/subsidies for changing those through an approved plumber? Check with your water company if you are interested in that although after 30 years I'm guessing maybe not

I believe there are have been virtually 0 prosecutions or fines issued.

With the backlog for prosecutions of more serious crimes can you imagine people getting prosecuted for using water? Ridiculous!