[bad trippy]

Contacted the water board today about a couple of issues, and the lady i spoke to tells me that there is a high chance of a hosepipe ban within 2 weeks. I asked her if this would affect WFP and she confirmed that the use of WFP will be banned through the duration of the ban. She expects the ban will be from parts of Gloucs down to North Devon

[mr D]

not good!!!

[ftp]

That's funny 'cos those areas were giving out flash flood warnings last night

[GWCS]

a "hose pipe ban" would not affect business wfp use.

only a outright ban on non essential drinking or personal cleaning, when you'll be collecting water for a stand pipe in the road.

[Sapphire Window Cleaning]

I beg to differ from GWCS, the ban on WFP is down to the individual water company, Defra earlier this year ruled that the water company can ban the use of waterfed poles at their discretion.
There was a huge meeting in London in March this year about it, window cleaners put it to Defra that it might breach health and safety, but the wording in the rules of the use of ladders means that WFPers will have to resort back to mop and squeegee.
Defra quoted "Window cleaners can use bucket and sponge"

[johnny_h]

here we go again

[seandyer2003]

that will be fun haha

how well they could enforce it though??

[Sapphire Window Cleaning]

If your neighbour is told they cant use their hose pipes they will soon shop you when your filling up etc.
I can see it now, all those twitching curtains lol

[perfectpanesplymouth]

we should be fine in the south west as i pulled this from sww site now;


South West Water can confirm the region is set fair for its 12th consecutive year without water restrictions - on the day (Friday May 2, 2008) the strategic plan to keep customers on tap to 2035 and beyond was published.


Reservoirs in the region are now 94% full – 4% higher than at the same time last year and 44% per cent higher than in November 2006 which followed two years of below average rainfall

The South West's 'big three' reservoirs – Wimbleball (98.9%), Roadford (92.8%) and Colliford (90.9%) are all ready to deal with the annual summer surge in demand.

[leapstallbuildings]

It seems that they are trying to avoid the necessity of a public meeting to enforce such bans.  So much easier for them to do it with a decree from on high so bravely issued from behind closed doors.  Although I'm not from that area, such a ban in the southeast would finish me off as I need a minimum earning to service debt.

[pingu]

Could you just fill up a container1000l IBC...then pump that through your ro system?...no hose pipe involved ..

Cheers
Dave.

[LWC]

Dont stress about it. The amount of water we use compared to big factories is little.

Someone pipes (no pun intended) up every year on here about this and NOTHING happens.

[tomy jackson]

if your RO is plumed in with out hose ther nowt thay can do but if its run from hose to ro or van then thats hose and may well be baned ,as your hose from van to pole is not on manes water

[williamx]

If a water ban is going to happen, the effects of it on your business can be avoided.

A water ban will not last for very long, maybe a couple of months in the worst affected areas.

You could do some or all of these suggestions to help you out.

Before the water ban comes into effect save as much water in ibc tanks in you back gargen if possible.

You could travel to other areas where no ban is in force and fill up ( I would suggest you use a meter water supply and pay for the water you are using, this will take the argument away from the water companies who will moan).

You could also use an indoor water pole system, which use a fraction of the water of a convential wfp system.

or you could go back to using ladders, but be very cafeful with this route because accidents do happen.

[leapstallbuildings]

If a water ban is going to happen, the effects of it on your business can be avoided.

A water ban will not last for very long, maybe a couple of months in the worst affected areas.

You could do some or all of these suggestions to help you out.

Before the water ban comes into effect save as much water in ibc tanks in you back gargen if possible.

You could travel to other areas where no ban is in force and fill up ( I would suggest you use a meter water supply and pay for the water you are using, this will take the argument away from the water companies who will moan).

You could also use an indoor water pole system, which use a fraction of the water of a convential wfp system.

or you could go back to using ladders, but be very cafeful with this route because accidents do happen.

Water saved before a ban comes in would not help unless it is rain water.  The ban is on usage of a particular company's water from a particular date.  They say they can tell by sampling water from the van tank and analysing the chemicals therein.  Quite how that could be achieved with de-ionised water is anyone's guess as surely the chemicals are removed by the resin?  Not that I would suggest falsifying receipts and lying about where the water came from of course.

[Sapphire Window Cleaning]

Have a look at this.
http://www.defra.gov.uk/environment/water/resources/drought/index.htm

[Oakley Windows]

Window cleaners wouldnt be affected by a hosepipe anyway as the water supplied by the water companies isnt suitable for window cleaning, we have to change/alter it so we can use; therefore it is 'no longer of a kind that was originally supplied'


http://www.bwca.co.uk/news.html

The proposal document makes clear that any restrictions apply only to water that has not been "used". Although no definition of this term is given, some useful guidance is provided;

spacer spacer"Our proposals apply only to water supplied by water companies under their statutory supply duties. These supply duties are directly linked to quality criteria. The filling of a receptacle by hosepipe from the mains supply, with no intervening use, for a proscribed purpose would be a breach of any restrictions in force. However, once water supplied by a water company has been used then that water is no longer of a kind that was originally supplied"

Section 3.3.3.1 (italics ours)

According to this guidance, restrictions both present and future do not apply to water that is "no longer of a kind that was originally supplied" .It is obvious that once water has passed through the treatment processes which enable it to be used for window cleaning, it too is "no longer of a kind that was originally supplied"

Of course, in order to make use of water for window cleaning with a water-fed pole system, a number of processes are necessary to alter the quality of the water. In fact, the production of pure water for window cleaning is in itself a "use" and in many other industries, purified water is considered a manufactured product, with mains water being simply a raw material. Since water purification is not subject to any restriction, this would be an effective defence if one were needed.

[matt]

i wonder what the leading people in the WFP are doing about this ? ? ? ?

[ftp]

Think Ewan's busy on another thread 




Wish I could enforce a water ban - it's been chucking it down this afternoon. 

[NWH]

This always comes up when we get a bit of sun,before you know it winter will be here.