Hosepipe ban

I’m with Southern Water and am on the Priority Services Register as I'm a pensioner, check your supplier. This means I'm exempt from the hosepipe ban.
There are other exceptions too, some disabilities, families with children under 5 and more, you just ring them.

tanith, I've looked online and the advice I"'ve been given is as follows:

"Being on your water company's Priority Services Register (PSR) does not automatically exempt you from a hosepipe ban.

The Priority Services Register is mainly designed to provide extra support to customers who may be vulnerable, such as:

People with medical conditions
Older people
Disabled customers
Families with young children
Customers who need additional communication support

A hosepipe ban (officially called a Temporary Use Ban) is a separate set of restrictions. During a ban, most customers—including those on the PSR—must still follow the restrictions unless they fall under one of the specific exemptions set out by the water company.

Some water companies do provide exemptions for certain medical needs, for example:

Using a hose for home dialysis equipment.
Watering plants that are essential for medical reasons.
Customers with specific disabilities who cannot reasonably use alternative methods.

The exact exemptions vary between companies, such as Thames Water, Southern Water, and Yorkshire Water"

I'm with Affinity Water, and their advice is:

"Being on the Priority Services Register (PSR) can give you an exemption from a hosepipe ban, but only in certain circumstances. Affinity Water's drought plan states that:

A hosepipe may be used by customers on the Priority Services Register who are physically unable, or who cannot safely use a watering can or bucket because of health reasons.

So:

✅ Yes, exempt if you're on the PSR because a disability or health condition means you cannot safely carry or use watering cans or buckets.
❌ Not automatically exempt simply because you're on the PSR for another reason, such as being over 65, having young children, needing bills in large print, or requiring extra support during supply interruptions"

So I'd check with your water company before assuming you may be exempt from the ban.

Mine says of pensionable age, it varies.

I've just checked the Anglian water website and they do not mention being over 65 as a qualification for being on the PSR. It certainly doesn't exempt you from the hosepipe ban.
We are on the Gas and Electric PSR because of age.

I save washing up water to dump on my pots. The grass, cars and patio will be fine. Luckily we only have a small garden. I cleaned the bins last week so they should be OK for a while.

At least they haven't ask us to share baths like in 1976.

I have water butts but also reuse water where possible. I have a bucket in kitchen and empty any washing up water into it. Even collecting the cold water run before it gets hot. The plants don't seem to mind the detergent or bits of food waste.
If weather continues dry, I'll stand in a big plastic container to collect shower water.
I've also collected rinse water from washing machine- transfer drain hose to big bucket/bin.
I wouldn't use dishwasher waste water as detergent is very harsh.

tanith

Anglian and 3 other water companies brought in hosepipe ban today. I’m really going to struggle to keep my pots and beans etc watered with a watering can. I’ll have to give up with the small front patch but I can only carry the can half full it’s just too heavy so it will take many cans full just to water my beans, my pots are looking lovely too but I guess if I lose them it won’t be from want of trying. Also my neighbour asked me to water hers while she’s on holiday I could do without that too 🥵
Anyone else under a ban and will struggle?

I'm in the same area, so had a text today from Anglian Water telling me about this.
Actually, my OH got one first and told that a ban had been introduced today, but either his text was different, or he didnt read it properly, because when I checked later, mine said that it doesn't come in until 1 am tomorrow morning

I'm not saying this to be pedantic, but just to make sure you aware that you can at least still use the hosepipe this evening. I know that won't make much difference at all overall, but I didnt want to think of you struggling with watering cans for even a day longer than you have to.

Ah yes, Jaxjacky but it doesn't say all pensioners are exempt from hosepipe bans...

We've had two texts this evening from Affinity Water. One says the ban will come into force on 17th July, the other just says there is a hosepipe ban with no mention of a date. I'm going to check the website to see if I can still water my beans and lettuces with the hosepipe for a while!

I do tend to use the watering can for my pots of hostas as they are near the house and outside tap, but the veg beds are at the end of the garden and even though we don't have a couple of acres it's still a bit of a treck. I would add that I don't water them every evening, or even every other evening. Just when I see them drooping and struggling. The grass and borders just have to fend for themselves!

You’ll have to trust me AskAlice I can’t share the txt I have as there is other information on there.

I've checked our account and we're on the PSR but not exempt from the hosepipe ban as we're not disabled just old.
We will get water delivered if it gets cut off and calls or visits to check we're OK. Let's hope it doesn't come to standpipes and such.

Fair enough, Jaxjacky, I just didn't want others to think that they were automatically exempt just because they are over 65 and possibly having their neighbours reporting them for breaking the ban.

I’m with Severn Trent and we don’t have a hose pipe ban at the moment and there are no plans to put one in place it seems. They’ve sent round two emails with advice about saving water and they are basically just what I’ve been doing - and most on here by the sound of it. My water butts are dry, and I hadn’t used my hose for as long as I can remember until last night when I was struggling to carry water up my garden steps, and I thought “Blow it!” I have a water meter. I’m not going to look at it!

Well although doesnt start till midnight I managed to water with the watering can not sure how long i can keep it up as i have a few steps in the garden we shall see. As someone else said although on the Priorty Register I'm not disabled just old so not exempt from the ban.

I signed Mum up for this a few years ago, nobody will bother checking up on her but she will just tell them that she’s got a bad back should they ever ask, and can’t be doing with staggering around with watering cans.
If you’re pensioner age just get yourself on the register.

They’re really only interested in younger people flouting the hosepipe bans.

AskAlice

Fair enough, Jaxjacky, I just didn't want others to think that they were automatically exempt just because they are over 65 and possibly having their neighbours reporting them for breaking the ban.

They can just say that they’re old and have registered the fact with their water company and aren’t able to carry watering cans around.

I'm not sure if this was the correct thread, but thanks anyway! The information provided was very useful.

Our hosepipe ban came in at midnight yesterday. After this thread, I already registered to be on the Priority services register, (even though we're pretty fit individuals, not bragging,), so I can now continue to water my garden with my hosepipe. They also said the notify the gas and electric companies.
Great service!

Now for them to stop discharging sewage into our rivers and out to our beautiful coastal waters. Our beach is full of visitors at the moment, lots of them entering the sea unaware of the issues.

I am with Thames Water and have been on the PSR for ages. I emailed them outlining my difficulties due to RA affecting my wrists adding a photo of a hospital letter giving the diagnosis. After a bit of to-ing and fro-ing I have been granted exemption. It could be worth you trying the same.

I’ve been saving my bath water and use that, the plants don’t mind! For those who might say a shower uses less,ours does not as it is a power shower and uses about the same amount. In any case I have osteoarthritis and a bath really helps the pain

lots of them entering the sea unaware of the issues well I m now going to enter the sea with my eyes fully open that the seas have never been clean and certainly aren’t now, but very beautiful nevertheless.
I find it strange really that using a hosepipe for five or six minutes which is all it takes for my garden, uses any less water than filling half a dozen watering cans up and staggering around

They need to stop all car washing places for a start ( perhaps they have I don’t know )