Hosepipe Ban?

Anyone got one already?

The papers are showing a few dramatic photos of low reservoirs and streams.

What amazes me with this country, is that it's either "flood or drought"
Since the privatisation of the water companies, it's profits first, fixing leaks and more water storage capacity, a poor second.
In this area, I think one of the reasons they dramatically reduce the water pressure after midnight is to disguise the number of long-term leaks which would be more noticeable if they didn't.
It also means our 9k shower won't work properly after that time.

Any suggested precautions or ways of coping with one apart from creeping into the garden at 2.00am and having a "sneaky water?"

 

Isn't it only in the North East, so far?

There was a hosepipe ban in our part of West Sussex when I moved here 4 years ago...but 35 miles down the road in the county town Chichester...no hosepipe ban...

 

Hmm..

That's a new twist on the Cinderella story...

 

As an ex Yorkshire Water engineer it suprises me that there appears to a risk over in nthe West
Reservior levels today in Yorkshire this week are at 75%...more then enough to go around the biggest county.
But.. Yorkshire water do take water from other sources. rivers and ground water and this is managed in times of shortages by maybe increases output from river sources.
Regarding suspected shortages after midnight... I find this a bit strange.. All supply companies are governed by statutory controls to supply a minimum pressure at all time.
Could it be the company are re zoning at night or carrying out flushing, mending leaks, or probable a host of other reasons.
Anyway. I hope the get it all under control soon.
Robert

 

Thanks for that, but United Utilities reduce the pressure every night.

I can get a shower, but I have to put it on "low" heat as with the reduced water pressure it will boil on "high" heat even on the lowest setting and automatically switch to "low," which then requires adjustment as it becomes too cold. At any other time of the day from around 5.30am I don't have to touch the controls.

 

I know I'm a naive little soul - but we're an island, which I always understood to mean that we're surrounded by (arguably) endless water. Surely I'm not the only one to have noticed this?

I get a little tired of water companies showing us pictures of low reservoir levels, dried up river beds, threatening us with hosepipe bans and stand-pipes and constantly urging us to save more/use less, water. I'm also a little tired of them telling me just how much they're 'investing' in the future. My water company's website tells me very little, except it ' ... achieved over 99% compliance with standards set by the Drinking Water Inspectorate.' Rootle around their site and I find it invested £310m in the 5 years 2005 - 2010 and that in the next 5 years it plans to 'invest' a further £222m. So, in the 10 years between 2005 and 2015, it will have spent around £532m to achieve this 99%. Yet nowhere does it even mention leaks, certainly not the estimated amount of water it loses from them, nor does it give any prediction on investment in new reservoirs or indeed anything else.

I'm happy to shower instead of having a bath, I don't have a dishwasher, use the washing machine a maximum of twice a week, have a 'diverter' on my downpipe, frequently use 'grey' water for the garden and have 3 x 200L water butts. I feel I'm doing my bit - the water butts and their accessories alone cost over £100 - it'd be nice if I could have confidence that the water companies are actually doing their bit, rather than constantly putting the onus on householders.

 

The gas people do the're upmost to keep the gas within the pipes, they have to, its dangerous stuff.

Water is harmless, so who cares if we lose a bit.

Seems they work to very different standards, but then I guess we pay a hell of a lot more for gas than we do water.

 

I'm so upset about the Hosepipe Ban. Before moving in 3 summers ago my vision of the Modern British Living was mainly based on Harry Potter books. Harry lives through a hosepipe ban in every book and I've been so keen to see one up here in Newcastle... well, I suppose you'd need to control the rain and raise the temperatures a bit to get one. Anyways, I'm upset.

 

Cumbria is threatened by a hosepipe ban due to falling reservoir levels also SW Scotland is considering a drought order to be put on.

 

You`ll be alright Gogs, S.W. Scotland is supposed to have rain tomorrow.:gnthb::D

 

Can't begin to think how the guys in N.W England feel. 6 months ago they were completely flooded out, now they've got a hosepipe ban.

 

I'm down on water companies!!!

After two months of pestering the local water company and council - four visits being told by the council that it is a water company problem, and the water company telling me it is a council problem (some query about private land owned bought by the local council and supplying a number of houses) our water was yesterday suddenly turned off without warning. An emergency water disconnection notice was posted through the door as the water board had apparently 'suddenly' become aware of a leak.

What complete idiots. I told them that two months ago.

Now the water pressure is stronger than ever but we have a lovely helping of grit and sand in our water. :dh: I've got the sprinkler on now in an attempt to flush it through!

 

I certainly resent not being able to use my hose when about a third of all water disappears in leaks...

We've not got a ban yet in W Sussex though...

 

We have our first uk desalination plant in london now, only to be used in desparation as it takes 3 times the energy to get fresh water from sea water. The water company said it would take less energy to process sewage straight back into drinking water but they didn't think londoners would accept that.