Hosepipe ban

[Andy]

Well it looks like us Southerners are going to get hit with a hosepipe ban pretty soon. I use a hosepipe to supply brewing liquor to my garage, I wonder if that comes under the prohibited list ?

Any water enforcement experts out there ?

[orlando]

I use an outside tap but only a couple of feet of hose show before disappearing through the cellar door. Hope Google Earth aren't photographing this year.

[boingy]

You'll have to read the small print once the ban is in place. There are often bizarre anomalies like you can fill a swimming pool but not a garden pond. Last year there was a decent news article that highlighted the daft loopholes. I seem to remember one where you could use the hosepipe to fill a barrel in a wheelbarrow then you could wheel the barrel to your plants and use a hose to water the plants from the barrel. There was also an allotment society who were allowed to use a hosepipe to fill up all the rainwater butts from the water main.

There will be lots of the usual "build more reservoir" comments but actually, fixing the leaking water pipes in the London area should be a priority. One quarter of all water supplied to the London area leaks out of faulty pipework One quarter!

[worts n ale]

were an island for gods sake its about time we built some Desalination plants the water board rip enough money off us do something decent with it instead of filling the fatcats pockets

[Jim]

were an island for gods sake its about time we built some Desalination plants the water board rip enough money off us do something decent with it instead of filling the fatcats pockets

Yes, and we can build nuclear power stations next door to supply them with electricity!

[gregorach]

Or, as boingy points out, we (or rather you - we have no problems with water shortages up here) could just patch the sodding leaks.

Alternatively, I'm sure we'd be happy to export some of our fine Scottish water to the parched south - once we're assured of getting a reasonable deal.

[Beer O'Clock]

Well, we can bleat on about what should be happening (I have done most of my life), or try and deal with the cards we have been dealt. So, I have bought a couple of water butts for storing the water that runs out of my immersion chiller. It's not going to save the world but it will save us having to use the hosepipe to water our garden. A small solar pump might be on the shopping list, though

[boingy]

Or, as boingy points out, we (or rather you - we have no problems with water shortages up here) could just patch the sodding leaks.

Alternatively, I'm sure we'd be happy to export some of our fine Scottish water to the parched south - once we're assured of getting a reasonable deal.

And that's the point, really. We're a wet country. We have more water resources than many other countries, which I suspect is part of the problem. We usually don't need to be careful with water so we aren't. We already have a network of rivers and canals that could be used for water transfer if we chose to spend a bit of cash. It would cost millions but would be much cheaper than building new pipelines. Fixing the leaks is also expensive but, surely, is essential. It's hard for folk to be told to shower more quickly and to fix dripping taps when such a huge proportion of water is peeing out of the pipes. The water companies have no real incentive to fix the problems though.

[boingy]

Here's your answer Andy. I suspect item 6 is the problem for brewers:

What does a hosepipe ban mean?

Hosepipe bans, officially called Temporary Use Bans, ban 11 things in the home:

watering a garden using a hosepipe
cleaning a car using a hosepipe
watering plants using a hosepipe
cleaning a private leisure boat using a hosepipe
filling or maintaining a swimming or paddling pool
drawing water with a hosepipe for "recreational use"
filling or maintaining a domestic pond using a hosepipe
filling or maintaining an ornamental fountain
cleaning walls or windows with a hosepipe
cleaning paths or patios with a hosepipe
cleaning other artificial outdoor surfaces using a hosepipe.

People found breaching the terms of the ban risk being prosecuted and fined up to £1,000.

There are a few exemptions - to protect the infirm, for instance - and people can contact their water company before the bans come into force if they think they should be exempt.

Customers can still water their gardens if they use a watering can and not a hose, and can still clean their cars with a bucket.

Quote taken from here:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-17111554

[Andy]

Yes, I'd seen that and also checked out the "non-technical" plan from South East Water

[boingy]

Yes, I'd seen that and also checked out the "non-technical" plan from South East Water

Non-technical? Is that where they just kinda shrug?

[Kev888]

Hmm, I'm in deep doodah if we get a ban here.

But perhaps one could argue that its either for drinking or food-related sanitation; either way I'm not sure that beer is optional, let alone recreational

Cheers
Kev

[far9410]

drawing water with a hosepipe for "recreational use"

Brewing is not recreational, its a necessity !

[Dennis King]

drawing water with a hosepipe for "recreational use"

Brewing is not recreational, its a necessity !

Honest your honour.

[jmc]

Tonight's news said ban starting around here on 5th April.
March likely to be a busy month for brewing!

Ban likely to inspire some new methods of supplying water for liquor & cooling.

Looking at rules it sounds like its OK to take off (short) hosepipe from outside tap for the duration and then just pour water from tap into a spare FV/barrel and carry barrel to garage for use (via gravity or new pump) for IC cooling?

I always save IC water for cleaning afterwards and waste water goes on the plants (when cooled down)