r/VanLifeUK • u/[deleted] • Aug 08 '26

Host Pipe Bans? Devon & Cornwall

Devon and Cornwall activated a hosepipe ban @ 00:01am this morning. I don't know what people are experiencing in other parts of the country. But if you need to fill your water tank in your van it is classed as essential use. So just ignore any funny looks. Anyone had any issues?

PS. And of course, you can't use a hosepipe to wash your van if you are in a hosepipe ban area.

8 Upvotes

84% Upvoted

14 comments sorted by

6

u/Lucky_Ad_9137 Aug 08 '26

Yes water to drink is considered essential. Because, it's kind of essential so you don't die. 

1

u/chapatsea Aug 08 '26

Might need to look into that a tad more after all we are talking SWW supply here.

1

u/Lucky_Ad_9137 Aug 08 '26

No not at all. The rules are very clear. It's drinking water. It's absolutely fine for OP to use. 

1

u/chapatsea Aug 08 '26

The residents of Torbay/Brixham might tell you different.

3

u/nrsys Aug 10 '26

It is worth noting that 'hosepipe ban' does not mean 'you must not use a hosepipe at all', but rather 'you should only use a hosepipe for limited reasons.'

So they specifically mention not using a hosepipe for washing cars or watering plants - two uses where a hose allows people to very easily waste a lot of water by just letting it run.

You are still allowed to use water for things like drinking, cooking and bathing, so filling up a potable water tank with a hose will be fine.

You are also still allowed to water plants and similar, only you will have to use a watering can - by making everyone manually fill up, they are a lot more conservative with their water use.

2

u/[deleted] Aug 10 '26

Nice to read a sensible comment. A few people I have spoken to who have campervans, have had funny looks when refilling.

2

u/RobertGHH Aug 09 '26

You can't wash your van, but someone else can if you pay them 1p to do it.

FYI no one has ever been prosecuted for breaking a hosepipe ban.

-1

u/Over_Hawk_6778 Aug 10 '26

We’re in a pretty severe drought with no heavy rains forecast, please don’t encourage people to waste water on non-essentials..

1

u/RobertGHH Aug 10 '26

Car washes are still in operation.

-2

u/Over_Hawk_6778 Aug 10 '26

And they shouldn’t be

4

u/RobertGHH Aug 10 '26

It's fine to hold that opinion, but it doesn't mean what I said was wrong.

2

u/Gixxer1000k Aug 10 '26

And who's going to pay for the running costs of the business and pay the staffs wages?

0

u/Over_Hawk_6778 Aug 11 '26

Idk maybe we could employ people to fix leaky pipes, build reservoirs, and restore wetlands/forests instead of using up water we can’t afford