Hosepipes and the boating community 26 April 2012 Jack Taylor Right http://www.cetamail.co.uk/files/hosepipeboat_lrg.jpg Not since 1921 has the UK suffered from such a severe drought as the one facing us this year. As many of you will know, a number of the UK's water companies implemented a hosepipe ban on April 5th. These water companies are located in the south and east of England, although there is a strong possibility that more water companies across the UK will follow suit. Using a hosepipe could land offenders with a £1000 fine, so it is worth knowing exactly how the restriction applies to you and your boat. Who is affected? So far the following water companies have issued hosepipe bans; Anglian Water, Veolia Central, Veolia South East, Thames Water, South East Water, Sutton and East Surrey, and Southern Water. If any of these companies are responsible for providing your water supply then the hosepipe ban applies to you. The rules are different for domestic water users and commercial water users, and there are some exceptions to the ban. For instance, filling the water tank on your boat is still allowed under the hosepipe ban. Check with your water company Each individual water company has different policies when it comes to exactly what you can and can't use a hosepipe for. For instance, South East Water has said that you can still use a hosepipe to clean your boat You are advised to contact your particular water company to find out precisely what is restricted and what isn't. There is also a dedicated Hosepipe Ban website ( http://www.hosepipeban.org.uk/) where you can check the latest developments with regard to the ban. Keeping your boat clean The main effect the hosepipe ban has in relation to boating is the process of cleaning your boat. When at home you will not be able to use a hosepipe to wash it, or any other leisure vehicle, for purely cosmetic reasons; instead you will have to use a bucket and sponge. The only exception to this is when the cleaning of your boat is required under health and safety regulations. These health and safety reasons are defined as "preventing or controlling the spread of causative agents of disease,' and 'removing or minimising any risk to human or animal health and safety". These definitions could be interpreted in a fairly broad sense, so that using a hosepipe to clean the windows of your boat so you can see clearly when sailing could come under removing a risk. You also could argue the same for washing down greasy substances from a boat's deck to prevent injury. One grey area is whether a hosepipe can be used to carry out boat maintenance tasks, like flushing an outboard engine. Again, this is important in keeping with health and safety regulations, however it is best to contact your water company to find out if it is acceptable. The main thing to remember is that the ban is being enforced for a valid reason, so if there are cleaning routines you can do without a hosepipe then try to do so. Check, clean, dry Another exception to the ban relates to the Department for Environment, Food, and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) Check, Clean, Dry campaign, a boat cleaning practice which aims to stop the spread of non-native species to the UK. Water companies have made an exemption for using hosepipes specifically for this purpose on the condition the cleaning takes place while the boat is still in the water, and they urge boat owners to try and use a commercial water supply instead of a domestic one. Boat owners need to be aware that using a hosepipe to wash a boat at home in the driveway, in front of all the neighbours, is not a good idea. While you could argue the case that the washing is in keeping with official health and safety guidelines, cleaning your boat at a marina or your local sailing club would be a better option. Good news for marinas and sailing clubs Due to their status as commercial enterprises, some marinas and sailing clubs will not be subject to the same restrictions as domestic water users. This exemption will depend entirely on whether the water company that supplies the water has implemented the ban for non-domestic water users. If the use of hosepipes is not prohibited at marinas or sailing, boat owners will be free to wash their vessels while they are berthed. You will also be able to perform maintenance tasks like flushing an outboard engine. Marina's should also be allowed to use a pressure washer to wash boats when they come out of the water, because that will fall under commercial use. How long will it last? There is no definite end date to the hosepipe ban, and there have been reports that it could be enforced throughout the summer months and beyond. While water companies can issue exceptions to the ban if they feel it is in the best interests of water users, they will only do so when there is no other option. The general message is that everyone should get used to the ban, and used to doing things differently.