It is possible to appeal to your water company
for an exemption to the hosepipe ban but this should be a last
resort and needs to be a reasonable case as any exemption will be
considered in the light of other demand for water.
- The strongest case to make is on health and
safety grounds and you will need to explain why watering is
necessary to maintain safe participation. Your case may be helped
by setting out the wider community and sporting benefits that your
club brings and how this is threatened by the water
restriction.Keeping the grass green is not a justifiable
reason.
Any exemption will have to consider the
following:
- The number and ages of people affected
- The value of assets affected – how much will it
cost to renovate lost grass cover for example.
- The quantity of water normally used and the
minimum necessary application required
- How the water will be applied
- When will the water be applied (ideally dusk to
dawn)
- What the club/board are doing to limit
consumption and save water
- Is there a long term strategy in place for
reducing mains water consumption
Applications for exemptions need to be realistic
– total, irrecoverable destruction of a square or court is a claim
too farYou should consider that neighbours and the wider community
might not support your proposal to use water for irrigating sports
pitches if they do not understand your case. You should explain and
demonstrate the need for the exemption and the benefits that
maintaining sports participation and ensuring the long term
viability/sustainability of the club will bring to the
community.