Hosepipe bans and paddling pools

[libbyssister]

So if I fill our paddling pool up with old bath water and a couple of warm buckets from the kitchen sink is that gonna be flouting the ban?

Can't imagine a summer where I don't have the paddling pool out for 3 DSs . Wouldn't use the hosepipe on the sly as have one quite nosy neighbour...

But if you technically don't fill the paddling pool from the hose but use buckets from indoors is it still going to get me a fine?

"Seems a bit crap to fill up a paddling pool with buckets during a hosepipe ban.
It's a waste of water. We should be trying to save water."

I agree with schilke and lougle. It seems rather selfish to think that you can still use water for non essential things when it is in short supply.

Here in Yorkshire we had an exceptionally dry summer in 1995 and our reservoirs were practically empty. They were tankering water in from Kielder because things were so desperate. There was no way I would have considered filling a paddling pool with clean, fresh water to keep a few children happy. We used to go and stay with MIL in Northumberland a lot and took all our washing with us so that we could save water at home. We were a week away from standpipes, then luckily it began to rain.

Why not save the bath water instead and use that in the paddling pool?

my neighbour uses a power hose on a weekly basis it hose down her garden
but apparently the hose pipe ban is not really enforcible, as above, am I meant to be the one to report her? good for public relations not

We wouldn't survive a hot summer without a paddling pool my daughter suffers terrible eczema and it's such a relief for her on hot sticky days. I couldn't keep her in the shower for 2 hours!! I'll just fill by bucket.

Doesn't being immersed in water make her skin more dry and itchy?

It's the hit humidity that's unbearable, trust me, I suffer too. Smother her in cream then chuck her in the pool!

PestoSansVesto is right. The last ban allowed the use of hosepipes for pools, bu this ban is under a new regulation which excludes use for pools including paddling pools.

I really dont think we can moan about paddling pools. Unless we conserve water now then we could end up in real difficulties. If its not there (for whatever reason) then its not there and complaining wont put it back. I for one do not fancy having to queue up to collect water,

Serious question - how much do most people wash now? When I was small we had a once a week bath and a flannel round everywhere on the other days. My mother did the same, my dad did manual work so would shower at work. Nowadays most people I know shower every day, is this one reason why there is less water?

I will fill my paddling pool with buckets. I am in the South East and am cross that every time new development is planned various bodies complain about lack of water resources and the development is passed anyway. Maybe a silver lining would be a repappriasial of building levels (says person who believes that if we all lived in appropriate sized housing there would be no housing shortage).

I'll probably start using the kids bath water to fill it up, we only use a small pool anyway. Though to be honest I think banning hosepipes is a short term solution to a long term problem. As long as water companies continue to leave leaks all over the place and we carry on building more houses without the infrastructure to support them and the people living in them, water shortages in the SE are just going to carry on.

The last two posts hit the nail on the head. Why conserve water when businesses don't have to and way companies ignore zillions of gallons of water to be lost? Added to that there is development after development popping up in the south east ... 10 homes here, 50 there, 150 down the road .,.. There is not the Infrastructure to cope with it.

The government needs to crack down on water companies losing so much water and making so many profits.

I sort of agree with you cookcleaner, but I think that everyone has to take responsibility. Just because businesses and water companies won't doesn't mean that we shouldn't. We will only run out of water more quickly - two wrongs don't make a right.

Am going to continue using the hosepipe to clean my bicycle. Quite legal!

How is that legal if there is a hosepipe ban? I suppose it does depend on which area you are in but in my area they clearly state that a hose pipe ban is just that, you cannot use it at all and they can (although whether they will enforce it) fine 1000 pounds. Is it really worth taking the risk? I'm sure that some areas will decide to enforce to make an example of people and deter others.

I understand that previously some areas have allowed the use of hose pipes to top up paddling pools but this is no longer the case.

Clearly if there is a hosepipe ban then you can't fill up a paddling pool - whether it's against the letter or the spirit of the rule.

A bit at people being literal and planning to use buckets!

OTOH they have said that people aren't allowed to use hosepipes with grey water, I heard that on the radio this morning, that is completely stupid.

Don't know if this is of use to anyone but I've just applied online for an exemption. If you are disabled, some water companies seem to have a waiver for the purpose of watering plants.

It'll be like that episode of the simpsons, chops, all the MNers in the country will pile around to your house

What actually happens when there is a hosepipe ban? I have never received a letter telling me that I'm not supposed to use a hosepipe, and I'm sure we had a ban last year or the year before if not both.

How can they expect people to follow rules if they don't even make the rules clear? When will the ban be over?

If they are going to assume that I get all the information i need from MN, they can feck off.

Got the theme tune in my head now!

I am wondering now if there was a ban last year, but I never heard anything and used my sprinkler all summer [bluah]

I have to admit that I am a bit at the number of people who fully intend to continue to use their hoses when there is a water shortage. In 1995 when we had extremely severe water shortages in West Yorkshire no-one I knew would have dreamed of using a hose. All you will do is make it worse for yourselves and everyone else and end up having stand pipes at the end of your street

Why is it so difficult to see the bigger picture?

I find it hard to see the bigger picture because the bigger picture isn't reflected in my bills. And the water that comes through my taps tastes like crap, but my Scottish family have yummy water, no hosepipe bans, and cheaper bills.

I'm on a water meter, I use water butts/ grey water for the few containers I do have, we shower not bath( not power shower) , don't wash the cars very often. I am generally conservative with my water usage and will therefore take the risk if I want to top up my pool.

We should go on a meter, I've been meaning to look into whether it woud work out cheaper for us, but I'm not convinced it will be cheaper.

Also, we get charged for waste water being taken away, how does that differ on a meter? How do they know whether they are taking the water away as sewage or if it's going on your garden?

I'm disappointed about not being able to fill the pool, but it's not the end of the world, we will go to the leisure centre instead. I'm annoyed that I can't water a vegetable patch that feeds our family. It's not about leisure or a pretty garden, it's trying to keep a healthy diet in the ace of mounting food bills.