Bristol Allotments Hosepipe Ban

Bristol Allotments Hosepipe Ban

Because of a risk to hosepipe users
contracting legionnaires disease which may prove fatal,
a Bristol City Council hosepipe ban on our allotments asks more questions than it answers,
so is the ban justified?

Filling one of these cans with rainwater is banned on Bristol allotments.

So what are plot holders seeking?

Firstly, lets be clear. Those growing crops on Bristol allotments have no desire to water crops directly from a mains connected hose. 

The issue is, that having saved rainwater the Council do not permit a hose to be connected to a water butt which will aid distribution. 

Plot holders with infirmities consider they are discriminated against if they cannot carry cans of water from standpipes or mains fed water troughs over distances. 

Whilst the current situation prevails there is no incentive for plot holders to save rainwater.

 

Many, if not all local councils need to reduce expenditure and cut costs wherever possible so it seems ironic that our allotments officers inform us that in the year ahead £55,000 needs to be saved from their budget, increased rents of our plots is the most likely solution towards this essential saving.

Whilst the latest water bill across 4,000 plots in the city exceeds £60,000 and rising a reduction in its usage, which is achievable, will go towards that much needed saving.

Council insist that not because of cost but a complete ban using hosepipes of any description on allotments is justified as the user may inhale legionella bacteria from spray emitted by the hose.
The ban includes watering crops directly with a hose or filling water butts from a mains supply.
The ban also applies to draining stored rainwater from a water butt into a container through a hose.

Briefly Understanding Legionnaires Disease.
What the Royal Society For Public Health says.
In a study, Legionella were common contaminants of collected rainwater. However, the use of rainwater for common gardening activities should not be discouraged. Aerosolisation of Legionella when using a watering can is minimal and any increased risk associated with a hose pipe use can be mitigated by using a coarse spray setting.

Please take a moment to study the itemised pictures below.

1. Filling a watering can directly from a mains supply standpipe to water crops. Annual cost upwards of £60,000 annually or about £15 per plot.

2. Filling a watering can directly from a water butt of stored rainwater, the water stored inside is a potential source for legionella bacteria to develop. Apart from an initial cost of water butts and pipework to the plot holder the annual cost of collecting rainwater is £0.

3. Filling a watering can via hose connected to a water butt of stored rainwater, the water stored inside is a potential source for legionella bacteria to develop. Apart from an initial cost of water butts and pipework to the plot holder the annual cost of collecting rainwater is £0.

4. Rainwater stored in a water butt also has the potential to develop legionella bacteria. A can filled directly from the tap of the water butt with a rose fitted to the can will produce droplets and supposedly therefore is still a risk of inhalation but this practice is not banned. 

The pictures above asks three questions.
1. Is there any significant difference between no’s 1 and 2 (or 3) above?
2. Is there any significant difference between no’s 2 and 3 above?
3. What are the possibilities of inhaling water aerosolisation from no.4, whether the can has been filled by no.2 or 3 above?
Perhaps the most significant overall distinction of the four points is a difference in cost closely followed by if there is, any risk to health?

Fresh mains water is possibly our most valuable resource, we are fortunate there is a reasonably abundant supply, but it is not infinite and it is certainly expensive to produce. It is a cost which is included in our allotments rent. From our 4000 plots if each one saved on average two, 200 litre barrels of rainwater at any given time it would reduce mains water consumption by 1.6 million litres annually, a huge cost saving to be reflected in our water bill and possibly our allotments rent.

Using saved rainwater at peak growing times, particularly with extremes of heat as experienced in recent summers with predictions this will continue into the future will place huge demand on individual plot reserves.  

However, water consumption on allotments can be reduced by various methods to maximise use of harvested water supplies. Developing increased composting of plot waste for organic mulching is one option, this not only improves soil health but also eliminates the need of chemical fertilizers. Avoiding soil disturbance, or no dig as it is commonly known is proven to retain soil moisture and reduce weed growth is another.

Many will agree for various reasons that mains water consumption needs to be reduced and this is achievable, but only with structured dialogue between allotment managers and plot holders who have created a petition to overturn the current blanket ban of hosepipes on allotments.

If you may wish to support the petition, please Click Here.

The petition will close on 31st October 2023 and will be submitted to Bristol City Council on 14th November 2023 at City Hall, College Green, BS1 5TR.