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• PRO

  Gary RK July 16, 2010 at 1:46pm

  Thanks. As I understand it this is the new Act, although passed, it comes into operation/law in October this year and until then can be considered j'just' guidance by the water companies?
  
  Page 22 is intersting in how it catagorises usage, esp point c::
  
  Water use: temporary bans
  For section 76 of the Water Industry Act 1991 (temporary hosepipe bans)
  substitute—
  “76 Temporary bans on use
  (1) A water undertaker may prohibit one or more specified uses of water
  supplied by it if it thinks that it is experiencing, or may experience, a
  serious shortage of water for distribution.
  (2) Only the following uses of water may be prohibited—
  (a) watering a garden using a hosepipe;
  (b) cleaning a private motor-vehicle using a hosepipe;
  (c) watering plants on domestic or other non-commercial premises
  using a hosepipe;
  (d) cleaning a private leisure boat using a hosepipe;
  (e) filling or maintaining a domestic swimming or paddling pool;
  (f) drawing water, using a hosepipe, for domestic recreational use;
  (g) filling or maintaining a domestic pond using a hosepipe;
  (h) filling or maintaining an ornamental fountain;
  (i) cleaning walls, or windows, of domestic premises using a
  hosepipe;
  (j) cleaning paths or patios using a hosepipe;
  (k) cleaning other artificial outdoor surfaces using a hosepipe.
  (3) The Minister may by order—
  (a) add a non-domestic purpose to the list in subsection (2);
  (b) remove a purpose from the list in subsection (2).
  
  I'm now assuming/hoping that business parks fall into 'commercial' catagory, but bang goes any commercial watering of residential turf/planting jobs......
  
  Stuart said:

  Flood & Water Management Act 2010
  
  www.opsi.gov.uk/acts/acts2010/pdf/ukpga_20100029_en.pdf See pages 22-24 for lists and details.
• PRO

  Gary RK July 16, 2010 at 7:29pm

  Steve, the legisalation does not read clearly (see above document), hence concern....
  
  As a commercial business I can water via hose pipes commercial sites
  As a commercial business I CAN NOT water via hose pipes residential sites
  As a private individual I CAN NOT water at all using hosepipes
  
  THE GARDEN COMPANY said:

  hosepipe ban is for domestic users only !! for work perposes for example carwashes is ok ! also for herbicide sprays ! common sense prevails
• 

  Graeme @ BGS July 16, 2010 at 8:19pm

  gary @ affinity landscapes said:

  but bang goes any commercial watering of residential turf/planting jobs......
  
  

  
  Doesn't answer your question but have you considered using Inturf Blended Premium Top Soil Plus - it helps increases the water and nutrient holding capacity. Have a chat to Tim at Sunningdale turf for more details of this product. I also understand that under the current act, you have 21 days after laying new turf in which you can use a hose pipe regardless of any ban in force.
  
  As a foot note, I see that they plan to ban us walking around with the hose filling up the watering can! :-)
• PRO

  Gary RK July 16, 2010 at 8:33pm

  Thanks Graeme. Will look into it.
  
  Don't you find the law as ass?
  
  You can not get a definitive answer anywhere, not even the water companies.
  
  So we all end up with various bits of the puzzle.......
• PRO

  Gary RK July 16, 2010 at 9:16pm

  Graeme, do you have a point of reference for the '21 days' comment ?
  
  I can't find any provision in the new act, but would love to find out whether this is true or folklore (like the 14 day roadtax one..) in the old act.........
• PRO

  Gary RK July 17, 2010 at 12:23pm

  Thanks Stuart.
  
  The key point is your last sentence - it does appear to be down to how the individual water company intreprets the rules and implements them.
  
  For instance United Water say commercially you can water newly laid turf/plants in commercial areas with no explicit time limit, but not water same on a residential site.
  
  It doesn't help that our region is covered by upto 4 different water companies .........
• 

  Donny Bryan July 17, 2010 at 5:30pm

  In the North West United Utilities has provided a simple explanation. It would perhaps be over optimistic to assume all water authorities are the same!
  
  http://www.unitedutilities.com/BanCommercial.htm
  
  We haven't encountered any problems following this and they are helpful with queries.
• PRO

  Gary RK July 17, 2010 at 5:59pm

  Hi Donny, thanks - Staurt had picked up on that explanation from United Utilities in his post and you're right - if they are were all the same it would be easy. The problem seems to be each Utilitiy has the ability to write it's own restrictions within the framework of the act.
  
  Donny Bryan said:

  In the North West United Utilities has provided a simple explanation. It would perhaps be over optimistic to assume all water authorities are the same!
  
  http://www.unitedutilities.com/BanCommercial.htm
  
  We haven't encountered any problems following this and they are helpful with queries.