If you only have a ban on hoses, what do you expect people to do? You can't, for instance, instal a water butt if you don't know where to get one. We've now got Birmingham City Council to promise to circulate details of local sources. It's a step in the right direction, but unless people are taught how to set up trickle systems, which are the most economical on water, and pointed towards affordable sources of the equipment, nothing much is going to change. If they just wave threats about, and do nothing positive, I don't think anyone can complain much if people look for ways round their rules.