On 2010-07-09 18:14:19 +0100, "Nightjar \"cpb\"@" "insertmysurnamehere said:

shazzbat wrote:

"Pete" wrote in message
...
We are about to have a hosepipe ban throughout the North West. My
immediate reaction was not to worry - we have a 5,000 gallon water tank
filled with rainwater which we hadn't used because the pump system
wasn't working. My other half now says he can get the pump working so
we can use this water via our hosepipes.

However, I have got a vague memory of people not being allowed to use
hosepipes even if they are not connected to the mains water.

Is my memory correct or am I having a senior moment?!!!

Your memory is correct. People were threatened with legal action for
using their hospipes to water their gardens with rainwater from tanks
etc. Note the term "threatened". I doubt whether they would actually
prosecute if you called their bluff. Frankly I doubt if they could
legally stop you moving your water with your hosepipe.

If it is for a banned purpose, they usually can. The ban is normally on
the use of the hose, irrespective of the source of the water.
Snip
Colin Bignell

Not true - the ban is specifically upon the use of a hosepipe to
distribute water *supplied by* the water company. So there is no legal
way to ban the use of a hosepipe to distribute collected run-off water
from a water butt or other container.

See http://www.opsi.gov.uk/acts/acts1991...-ch3-pb3-l1g76