To stick to the hosepipe ban …

[HosePipeNoMore]

… and to think that people who don’t are selfish with no consideration of the overall good of society.

When the water companies start properly investing in infrastructure, so we don’t run out of water when the rain stops and our waterways aren’t polluted with shit, then I’ll stop watering my garden pots. Until then, I don’t feel I should be the one making sacrifices while they continue to protect their profits.

They have the funds to make a bloody good start tomorrow. But they won’t because they’d rather pay their shareholders.

No hosepipe ban here, but I think we probably need things to get bad to push the water companies into having to do something.

By stopping using hosepipes we're just enabling them to do nothing.

I agree with this.

We don’t have a hosepipe ban yet, but I suspect it’s only a matter of time so I am trying to be frugal with water.

Fortunately I still have water in my water butt so am using that to water the most at risk plants, but it won’t last for more than a few days.

We’re sticking to it, but frustrating where there’s two big water leaks on a road near here that hasn’t been fixed. One is like a mini fountain.

You don’t have to stop watering anything, don’t use a hose

Exactly! They’re pushing the problem to be us, how dare we want to use water during a heatwave?!

I don't understand people's logic - I'll keep using all the water until it runs out so that'll really show the water company bosses and shareholders... what?? They won't care when you can't flush the bog for a week!! They're away in the Caribbean or wherever in their massive houses, not giving a tiny, mouse-sized shit about you and your family. Carrying on regardless and wasting water won't solve this problem. This is a massive problem around privatisation and accountability. I have no idea how to sort it.
I've observed people on my allotment just standing spraying water for ten minutes or more, it's infuriating. I water (with my cans) intentionally, on each individual plant and skip it where I can. It takes flippin' ages. But I'm not a dickhead and I care about not taking more than I need because we're in a huge mess.

That's good that you are able to harvest rainwater like that. Most people cant.

But I agree that 2000 litres wont last long.

We are in a grey area for our allotment - technically it is agricultural land (smallholding) but we arent commercial as we dont sell produce though could if we wanted to.

We arent ever allowed to water by hose but we are normally allowed to fill our waterbutts by hose. We then use the waterbutts as dips for watering cans. I have had to ask the committee if this is still allowed.

Our allotmant is around a quarter of an acre all under cultivation probably far more intensively than if it were on a farm.

Bowing down and doing what your overlords tell you, to the point of pinning the blame on your neighbours, is not the solution.

There’s one here too. Frustrating to see.

The problem, as with everything else, is too much government.

• Twenty years and millions of pounds to get planning for new reservoirs due to over regulation. Literally involving different government Quangos being for and against building with constant judicial oversight.
• OFWAT controls how much water companies can spend on fixing pipes and they always allow less spend than the companies want.
• Millions of new consumers imported into the UK by government visas.
• Hundreds of thousands of new homes granted planning in areas where there has been no infrastructure investment.

If we had a free market we likely wouldn't have these issues.

I'm sure a Green MP was on Question Time not long ago and said something along the lines of 'the housing shortage has nothing to do with immigration'! Hilarious. Where does she think the millions live?!

What an immature attitude.

No answer, then.

Got it.

I think it would be a good thing if we ran out of water. Well, not fully ran out because that will never happen but got to the point where they had to shut it off for part of the day or something. It’s the only way politicians will actually take note and do something about the terrible water infrastructure in this country. We have absolutely no lack of fresh water, just a lack of proper infrastructure to get it to the right place without leaks.

the 1000 litre ones ?

A short shower or a strip wash is "washing properly". May not be people's preference but it's perfectly effective. I don't work in a coal mine.

Idk but reading posters on here admonish anyone for using a hosepipe even when there’s no ban is next level irritation.

Telling that some posters get worked up at the potential for someone to flout a hosepipe ban, but are comfortable with the myriad real acts of selfishness prevalent in the UK, today.

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Unless your sweat doesn’t smell it’s not enough

Rubbish. The sweat is washed away with a flannel, soap and a sink of water perfectly well, as is common for many people around the world. As it is with a short shower.

Using gallons of water doesn't change how long it takes for the sweat to come back either.

I am on the priorty services for water due to having a stoma. As a result I am exempt from a hosepipe ban. Bizarre.

I'm not sure whether threads like this make me more depressed or angry.

The climate is collapsing in front of our eyes, and yet people are in denial about their responsibilities in respect of the causes (fossil fuels) and are also in denial about their responsibilities in respect of mitigating the effects (extreme weather including drought).

For all the selfish pricks who pursue a tragedy of the commons in an essential-for-life natural resource, here is a link to the most recent Climate Change Committee report: https://www.theccc.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/A-Well-Adapted-UK-CCRA4-IA-784y9813-3094039i85t59yhfufoub24f2bipdj1.pdf

Rainfall patterns have changed. Water shortages are here to stay if we carry on as before.