Originally Posted by Steven

Heres something that I have been wondering about for a while.

I have just had a well bored in my garden, it consists of 7 meters of piping going straight down and I now have a source of water that does not come through the water companies system.

So if I started using this to wash my car, fill the swimming pool etc would I be in touble?

Of course I would be hated by my neighbours but they can all fcuk off anyway, would I be in legal trouble?

Surely they can't brink legal trouble to you for sourcing some water for you to drink? That would be like saying you can't grow your own food?

Originally Posted by Oneshot

Originally Posted by Steven

Heres something that I have been wondering about for a while.

I have just had a well bored in my garden, it consists of 7 meters of piping going straight down and I now have a source of water that does not come through the water companies system.

So if I started using this to wash my car, fill the swimming pool etc would I be in touble?

Of course I would be hated by my neighbours but they can all fcuk off anyway, would I be in legal trouble?

Surely they can't brink legal trouble to you for sourcing some water for you to drink? That would be like saying you can't grow your own food?

I don't want to drink it, I want to frivolusly waste it on car washing, swimming pools, huge enormous fountains and the like.
Just to annoy the neighbours and the local water company, but need to know if I am going to be facing a 5 grand fine if I do

Originally Posted by Steven

Heres something that I have been wondering about for a while.

I have just had a well bored in my garden, it consists of 7 meters of piping going straight down and I now have a source of water that does not come through the water companies system.

So if I started using this to wash my car, fill the swimming pool etc would I be in touble?

Of course I would be hated by my neighbours but they can all fcuk off anyway, would I be in legal trouble?

A ban means you cannot use a hosepipe to water a private garden or wash a private car . The definition of a private motor car includes any mechanical vehicle eg. Motorbikes, taxis, minicabs, caravans and trailers. Buses are not covered by the ban as they are public service vehicles and push bikes are also not included but we're appealing to our customers to use a bucket of water throughout the duration of the ban. It also bans use of garden sprinklers and irrigation systems , connected to the mains water supply, (including micro-irrigation, seep hoses, drip feed systems). We are asking our customers to be sensible about using water elsewhere around the home (see examples in the garden and home sections below). A hosepipe ban helps to reduce the demand for water and it also raises awareness of the drought.

This from the Three Rivers (dried up). Your well should be tested apparently and can you imagine how often well comes up on Yahoo?
I would imagine if the sprinklers are ok you could stick various digits skywards and wash the car whether it needs it or not.
I would double check first though.

That's your own water so no different from rainwater from your roof in a barrel. Use it however you want!

Dont the water company own the rights to all the groundwater in their region? I'm sure I remember this coming up years ago, a guy dug himself a well, but was still liable for water rates.

Yes, water abstraction is controlled. The mob I work for regulate and advise on water abstraction. A call to your local Environment Agency office should shed some light for you. Though the party line is that during this droughty time we should all be doing what we can to lessen our consumption of water.

Originally Posted by sandmanfez

Dont the water company own the rights to all the groundwater in their region? I'm sure I remember this coming up years ago, a guy dug himself a well, but was still liable for water rates.

He would have been if he was still connected to the mains or the sewer. No connection to either = no bill.

and the irony is - the association of british insurers has stated that planned new homes in these areas could be uninsurable because they are on flood plains

you can always p1ss your water company though off by claiming the 10% discount (which you ARE entitled) for having a rain barrel connected to your down guttering down pipes

DM

Originally Posted by Dominus-Mortis

and the irony is - the association of british insurers has stated that planned new homes in these areas could be uninsurable because they are on flood plainsDM

Tell me about it - I live approximately 800m from the Medway, and have trouble explaining to others that the last thing insurance companies are going to be worried about is a claim from me - they'll be far too busy dealing with claims from the people that live much further away, but aren't 150m up from the river....

Originally Posted by sandmanfez

Dont the water company own the rights to all the groundwater in their region? I'm sure I remember this coming up years ago, a guy dug himself a well, but was still liable for water rates.

No. If you collect it how you want. If you have a bore hole a licence from the Enviroment Agency may be needed.

From a borehole company site:

Residential users, no permissions are needed to abstract quantities up to 20 cubic metres of water per day (4400 gallons). This is an immense volume—few houses could ever reach this level of consumption.

But even having paid your dues to the EA, there are vast savings to be made.

With The Water Act 2003, the law is being changed, and when enacted, we understand that supplies of less than 20m3/day will only require registration and not full licensing. It is worthwhile visiting the Environment Agency website to check the current situation. Residential users normally have no fees to pay for abstraction.


http://www.environment-agency.gov.uk...erres/?lang=_e