24-hour coverage PT
Breaking News Brazil and the world, minute by minute
United Kingdom

‘People are scared their neighbours will call the police on them’: how the hosepipe ban got caught up in the culture wars

While many people in the UK recognise the need to preserve water, others are furious and planning to flout the ban in their area. The target of their anger? Failing water companies and frighteningly thirsty data centres ‘Plants are like...

‘People are scared their neighbours will call the police on them’: how the hosepipe ban got caught up in the culture wars
365 Summary

This is what he plans to do this week – defying a hosepipe ban in place across large parts of England, to ensure his shrubs maintain a steady pulse. On Tuesday, Thames Water became the latest company to ban hosepipes – a restriction that will affect more than 10 million people.

  • Since mid-July, Welsh Water, Anglian Water, Affinity Water (serving Bedfordshire, Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Hertfordshire and Surrey), Southern Water and Cambridge Water have all...
  • And earlier this week, South East Water extended its existing ban to cover an additional 1.5 million.

Editorial reading aid based only on information contained in this story and its identified source.

While many people in the UK recognise the need to preserve water, others are furious and planning to flout the ban in their area. The target of their anger? Failing water companies and frighteningly thirsty data centres

‘Plants are like your babies,” says Harry. And accordingly, he argues, most people would do anything to keep them alive, including break the law. This is what he plans to do this week – defying a hosepipe ban in place across large parts of England, to ensure his shrubs maintain a steady pulse.

He may not be alone. On Tuesday, Thames Water became the latest company to ban hosepipes – a restriction that will affect more than 10 million people. Since mid-July, Welsh Water, Anglian Water, Affinity Water (serving Bedfordshire, Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Hertfordshire and Surrey), Southern Water and Cambridge Water have all announced hosepipe bans. And earlier this week, South East Water extended its existing ban to cover an additional 1.5 million.