Savvy Britons reveal the creative ways they’re bypassing hosepipe bans – from homemade hoists to shower heads hung out of windows
Millions of Britons face a cyclone ban following reduced rainfall and three heatwaves in one of the hottest summers on record in the UK.
More than 11 million customers of Affinity Water in the South, South East, Cambridge and Anglian Water, as well as the Home Counties, have been ordered not to use hoses and face the threat of fines of up to £1,000.
Thames Water also announced a hose ban which will affect more than ten million customers.
Under the restrictions, households are prohibited from using hoses for non-essential activities such as watering gardens, cleaning cars, filling children’s pools or filling hot tubs.
Many Brits have now taken to social media platforms to poke fun at the respective bans in their area, suggesting rather humorous ways to water plants and fill children’s pools.
From using shower heads hanging from windows to submerging watering cans in trash cans and even using homemade cranes filled with bath water, many people have gotten remarkably creative with their light-hearted attempts to get around the new rules.
Taking to TikTok to share a rather hilarious attempt to get around the hose ban, a Briton was caught holding the shower head out the window in the hope of reaching the paddling pool in their garden below.
One user said, “If you’re lucky, it will be full by next year,” while another recalled that memory: “We used to use the washing basin when we were little.”
Many Brits have taken to social media platforms to poke fun at the relevant bans in their area by suggesting some rather humorous ways to water their plants and fill children’s pools.
A TikTok user joked that he ‘accidentally’ washed his neighbors’ plants while cleaning their windows
An Englishman described filling a jerry can with bath water and using a homemade crane to carry it into the garden to fill the children’s pool.
‘Remove the shower head and get better flow from the attached pipe. ‘It was a great experience for us,’ another reviewer advised.
‘I connected my kitchen sink to a chain of pool noodles taped together. Worked great,’ one reviewer shared.
There are numerous exceptions to the restrictions which mean some customers can still water their garden or fill a pond even after restrictions are in place.
From religious christenings to watering lawns recently planted by a company, there are a number of surprising situations in which a hose pipe can still be used.
Customers on the ‘Priority Services Register’ are also eligible for these exemptions; This includes those on dialysis, a feeding pump, or automatic medication, and those with a chronic or serious illness.
But those who don’t qualify for any of these exemptions have been forced to get creative with their workarounds and are now using social media to share their ingenious tips and tricks.
During a temporary ban, customers can continue to use watering cans to water their plants or fill their pools; This leads some people to use a bucket or even a trash can to carry their water up and down the yard.
Others tended to get quite creative; A Brit shared how he filled a bin with old bath water and used a homemade crane to move it into the garden and fill the paddling pool.
There are numerous exceptions to the restrictions which mean some customers can continue to water their garden or fill a pond even after restrictions have been imposed.
During a temporary ban, customers can continue to use watering cans to water their plants or fill their pools; This leads some people to use a bucket or even a bin to carry their water up and down the garden
Some have been seen making a makeshift filter using a water bottle they attach to the sink, while others suggest just sticking with an average watering can.
For those looking to treat their plants directly, some users have suggested investing in so-called ‘water buddies’, which act as reservoirs that you can fill directly with water and then slowly nourish the potted plants over a long period of time.
Meanwhile, some have been seen making a makeshift filter using a water bottle attached to the sink, while others suggest just sticking with your average watering can.
‘I obsessively collect rainwater, just in case,’ said one rather prepared commenter. ‘My trash cans, dumpsters and rain barrels are full!’
But other TikTok users appeared outraged at the suggestion that Brits would initially follow tornado ban rules; One very angry commenter wrote: ‘I’ll use as much water as I want. They keep increasing prices so I’m using more.’
Another said: “There’s absolutely no way I’m complying with the hose ban, I’m using what I paid for!” he added.
‘The hose ban is absolutely ridiculous,’ said one commenter. ‘I don’t understand the logic of banning hoses, but it’s still okay to fill watering cans from the same tap.
‘I’m sure I use less water with the hose’s spray function than with watering cans.’
‘Hose ban? No thanks – I pay for my water. “We will empty and refill the pool like every day!” he added.
For those looking to treat their plants directly, some users have suggested investing in so-called ‘water buddies’, which act as reservoirs that you can fill directly with water and then slowly nourish the potted plants over a long period of time.
But other TikTok users appeared furious at the suggestion that Brits would initially follow tornado ban rules.
Another TikTok user questioned whether anyone else ‘intends to ignore the hose ban’ in place across much of the UK
Pressure on water supplies is intensifying with current hot weather conditions following three unprecedented heatwaves and the driest spring on record in England and Wales.
The announcement comes after the Environment Agency said large parts of southern, central and eastern England were approaching official drought status.
Thames Water has become the latest in a series of firms to impose cyclone bans in southern England, which has seen little rainfall this month.
The company said water use is currently 10 per cent above normal in the Thames Valley and Home Counties and 7 per cent above normal in London.
The firm added that customers currently use an extra 100 million liters of water every day, which is the equivalent of adding every home in Manchester to the network.
Periods of hot weather can increase demand as customers consume more water to stay cool and irrigate gardens, farmers use more water for crop irrigation, and industries use more water to protect infrastructure from the heat.
Higher temperatures can also cause physical stress on underground water pipes, resulting in higher rates of bursts and leaks; Lack of rainfall means little replenishment of reservoirs.
Helen Wakeham, chair of the National Drought Group and Environment Agency water director, said: ‘All sectors are stepping up and we are grateful to the public for adhering to the restrictions in place to ensure there is enough water for everyone this summer.
‘We want everyone to stay safe and hydrated in hot weather, but every drop we can save is another drop for nature and agriculture.’
The Met Office said rainfall totals from July to date ranged from 9 per cent of the long-term average in the North West to zero in the East and South East.
