"Hosepipe ban" - has anyone challenged it in court?

[jon-]

Just a random musing really as I was washing my car, using FAR more water via a watering can than I ever would have with a hose.

Auto Express and Radio 4 have proven you actually use less water washing your car with a hose, rather than the 2 buckets / watering can method, and from my own totally none scientific tests, I agree.

The water companies have admitted the calculation used for the original ban had the hose pipe running CONSTANTLY through the car wash. Given everyone now uses stop start nozzles (we're metered after all) the "hosepipe ban", with regards to car washing, is based on out of date and flawed information.

I understand the need to restrict people watering their laws / flowers / cats, and it's easier to ban any residential use of a hosepipe, however my question is, if you were caught using a hose pipe to wash your cars enough times it eventually landed in court, is there a chance the courts would side with logic or would you just have the book thrown at you anyway?

Probably a repost, but the search is broken.

[mrmr96]

Courts, Logic! Pah!

You broke "the rules" and whether the rules are not is not the subject of the courts deliberations.

[Raize]

You can't challenge these sorts of arbitrary laws.

[Muncher]

Find out how many people have been prosecuted in the last 20 years for breaching a ban;)

[VolvoT5]

jon- said:

is there a chance the courts would side with logic or would you just have the book thrown at you anyway?

Don't think you will find much logic in the British judicial system.
Hence why we see crazy things like a "hacker" being locked up for a year for posting some rude comments on facebook and violent thugs or sex offenders getting off with community orders.

Assuming you are otherwise law abiding and a tax payer, you will get totally shafted if caught using a hosepipe when the ban is in place..........

[zollburgers]

It's a hosepipe ban rather than a restriction on usage. So logically, you would be guilty if you used a hosepipe even if it would have used less than filling a bucket from the tap.

[jon-]

Bah. So during the drought they're forcing us to use more water.

I love this country.

[FourWheelDrift]

Attach the the hose to the tap, partly bury/partly cover the hose in the flower beds, run the hose up your trouser leg, then up out the top of your trousers into a hole cut into a watering can with the nozzle of the hose coming out of the spout.

Job done

[eldar]

FourWheelDrift said:

Attach the the hose to the tap, partly bury/partly cover the hose in the flower beds, run the hose up your trouser leg, then up out the top of your trousers into a hole cut into a watering can with the nozzle of the hose coming out of the spout.

Job done

Thats the old way. You'd do it via bluetooth now.

[ThatPhilBrettGuy]

FourWheelDrift said:

Attach the the hose to the tap, partly bury/partly cover the hose in the flower beds, run the hose up your trouser leg, then up out the top of your trousers into a hole cut into a watering can with the nozzle of the hose coming out of the spout.

Job done

You'd probably get away with having the hose coming out not quite at the top of you trousers. Add to the effect by drinking a can of Coke at the same time

[zollburgers]

jon- said:

Bah. So during the drought they're forcing us to use more water.

I love this country.

If you are a sensible person then perhaps. However there are a lot of stupid people out there who would love to water the garden with a sprinkler fed with a hosepipe all night and would think nothing of washing their car with the hosepipe constantly on.

It would be nice if we could apply for a 'citizen licence' that would allow us to use hosepipes when we want and drive at appropriate speeds etc. Dedicated coaches on trains and pubs full of fellow normal people would be a massive bonus.

[mrmr96]

FourWheelDrift said:

Attach the the hose to the tap, partly bury/partly cover the hose in the flower beds, run the hose up your trouser leg, then up out the top of your trousers into a hole cut into a watering can with the nozzle of the hose coming out of the spout.

Job done

Quality idea!!

[Hungry Pigeon]

"I understand the need to restrict people watering their....cats..."

You're much braver than me! Our moggie would have my arm off if I tried to water it.

[williaa68]

You could apply for an exemption. I have one for my pool - had to fit a recirculating gizmo to the backwash hose but means I can still top it up (not that it has needed it!)

[ShampooEfficient]

Hungry Pigeon said:

"I understand the need to restrict people watering their....cats..."

You're much braver than me! Our moggie would have my arm off if I tried to water it.

Turn the pressure up.

[Disco You]

zollburgers said:

It would be nice if we could apply for a 'citizen licence'

Or possibly just "brain certificate".

[streaky]

williaa68 said:

You could apply for an exemption. I have one for my pool - had to fit a recirculating gizmo to the backwash hose but means I can still top it up (not that it has needed it!)

Of just put a (chlorine-resistant) fish in it.

Streaky

[jon-]

williaa68 said:

You could apply for an exemption. I have one for my pool - had to fit a recirculating gizmo to the backwash hose but means I can still top it up (not that it has needed it!)

That's interesting, where do you apply? I can't see it working, but worth a shot.

[williaa68]

The mrs wrote to south east water but looking at the stuff on their website it seems they have some very specific exemptions and maintaining a pool with a water conservation system is one of them. Interestingly using a hose to clean a car in the course of a business is ok, so if you were to pay someone to come round and clean if for you it would be ok but doing it yourself isn't!

[e8_pack]

It may seem illogical to you, but the ban isn't specifically aimed at you. Maybe you are an exception with the hose diffuser, many other people will be washing their cars with a thumb over the end. It would be very difficult to manage a hose "type" ban.

locals in Nigeria always wash their cars and they walk around with a bucket and throw water over the car in swift repetitive strokes with a smaller cup sized implement. Sounds odd but it works well!