Kitchen Garden Forum

In the Thames Water area we currently have a hosepipe ban. However, somebody today tried to convince me that it is OK to use hosepipes to fill up water butts. Can anybody tell me if that is true or not?
Thanks

how about the thames water website???

It was on the TV recently that it IS legal to fill water butts with hosepipes. It's also apparently legal to use them for water fights and to fill your swimming pool...

On a first run through Google, this came up from the Southern Water site which is very interesting...

"Can allotment holders water their plots using a hosepipe?

Yes, the restrictions apply to the watering of a private garden and the majority of allotments do not fall within this category. However, we would encourage allotment holders to act now and install water butts for collection of water and consider other ways they can use mulch and biodegradable gel to retain moisture in the soil."

I wonder if this is the same nationwide?

Radio 4 have had a couple of programmes about water/watering/etc., so there should be some useful info on their site.

We haven't got a hosepipe ban, yet.....

The web site says you can fill containers (watering cans, buckets), but makes no reference to filling water butts whose water you can then use for putting into watering cans!!

Ring up and ask and mention the Southern Water rules as your water company may also restrict the ban to gardens and not allotments. I can't see the difference between filling a can from a tap and walking a 100 feet with it and using a hose for the 100 yards and then filling the can. Tell them you have a dodgy heart and can't carry heavy objects too far.

On our site, in a Southern Water area covered by a ban, we are allowed to use a hose to fill our butts but not to water the plot.

One of my plots is in a far corner of the site with the nearest tap about 200 yards away. My plot nieghbours and myself have a perminent hose pip dug into the ground to feed our butts.

Last week a new resident cut into our hose to water their plot. This caused a bit of worry with the threat to remove the pipe totally. He is not liked very much at the moment!!!!!!!

Jerry

Tried to phone Thames Water, who have the cheek to have an 0845 (charge what you like and call it a local tarriff line)number to handle enquiries. Couldn't get through, of course, and was kept hanging on for ages for absolutely nothing. Remain disgusted with Thames, all of whose operatives were obviously out plugging leaks. Heard on the radio that, if Thames was a car manufacturer, one in three of its cars coming of the production line (ie water lost to leaks) would be no good (money down the drain!!) I hate water companies!
Did you also know 15% of customers refuse to pay their bills? They know they cannot be cut off, so why bother?

I'm in a Southern Water area but the council have told us that we can't use hosepipes at all and anyone who does is threatened with loss of plot!

Have a look at http://www.southernwater.co.uk/beatthedrought/ it's quite a long way down the FAQ page, but it says you can water your allotment.

Eventually got through to Thames Water and was told we can use hosepipes to fill water butts, but have to distribute the water with watering cans!

That seems fair enough; strategically place your water butts, fill them up and off you go. I wish we could do the same...

The chap from the council was on the site on Thursday and it's not Southern Water who are banning the use of the hoses but the council as they are worried that the people in the houses behind will get the hump if they see us using them...strange really as most of the gardens are 2ft high grass.....