Water Bans and Allotements

[thomasb]

I read in todays Observer newspaper that Thames Water (who cover my area) may announce as early as tomorrow that they will be bringing in hose-pipe bands and other restrictions from early April.
I am wondering what this will mean for us allotment people. While I think that sprinkler and hosepipe bans relate to unattended hosepipe watering of lawns and the such, what would the situation be with filling water butts with hosepipes?

I certainly was not gardening the last time that water restriction was brought in my area X-years ago, so I do not know what to expect.

Thanks,
Thomas

[thomasb]

[mat]

Thames Water are not short of water as far as I am aware, they have too many below ground sources, hence why the last hosepipe ban was so many years ago... However they are desperate to build a new reservoir near me, as I believe it is cheaper than repairing all their leaks (I understand Thames Water has the highest leak rate, which they were recently fined over)  Even last year I said I believed they would try it on this year with a ban, to try and hurry along the planning permission...

We have wells on our allotment, which apparently have never dried up, at the moment the water level is as high as ever.  The village duck pond down the road from me is higher than it has been in some of the past 14 years...

I am not anti/for the reservoir, I just believe all the hype at the moment in this area has alterior motives...

mat

[MattyJC]

They have just put off the consultations/public meetings regarding the new reservoir until the autumn...least in Wantage/Hanney...love to know what they are upto!

Hopefully any hose bans wont affect me too much...water troughs only on my lottie, but it maybe a good idea to start mulching crops as soon as possible.

[Curryandchips]

I am not affected as we don't have water on our plots anyway. I capture water off my shed roof in 4 plastic drums and rely on that for all my watering needs.

[thomasb]

The speculation in the weekends papers was correct....Thames water will be bringing in a hosepipe ban from April 3rd.

Therefore....start filling those water butts...
Thomas

[Mrs Ava]

I am used to having no water on the plot, as there are no taps, and the stream dries up in about June.  My water butts are currently all full and I am on the look out/scrouge for other decent sized water holding containers!  Amazingly, we went for a walk on the common on Sunday and huge areas were flooded and the ponds had all burst their banks!

[bennettsleg]

Those of you who have no butts on the site, how do you find your yields vary from those with water? Just curious so I can learn to pro-actively manage my plot with the ban in place.

[Mrs Ava]

I guess the only thing I notice not having plenty of water is my rocket and spinach bolts very quickly, but to get around that I either sow very early and protect or late as in September time.  I grow masses of pumpkins and squashes and they are always great, and sweetcorn isn't a problem.  I water drills before I sow seeds and I water planting holes as I go, but that is more or less it.  During the year I encorporate as much compost, leaf mould and rotted manure as I can lay my hands on to help with the water retention.  I also plant denser than perhaps is adviced as I figure the less naked ground, the less evaportation!  ;D

[sandersj89]

II am wondering what this will mean for us allotment people. While I think that sprinkler and hosepipe bans relate to unattended hosepipe watering of lawns and the such, what would the situation be with filling water butts with hosepipes?

I certainly was not gardening the last time that water restriction was brought in my area X-years ago, so I do not know what to expect.

Thanks,
Thomas

In sussex we are still under last summers hosepipe ban, it has not been lifted all winter and our local resevoir is only at 2/3's full at the moment.

On our plot watering with a hosepipe is banned though we are allowed to fill our water butts with the hose. This does reduce water consumption as you spot water only what is required.

But as we are on clay this does hold moisture pretty well under the surface so that helps a bit.

Jerry