I have just spotted this posting on the Waterways World web site
Hosing down boats still permissible in drought 'for health & safety reasons'
The British Marine Federation (BMF) says that after discussions with Water UK - the body representing water companies throughout the UK - it has been determined that boaters can use hosepipes to wash down boats 'for health and safety reasons'.
Seven companies – Anglian Water, South East Water, Southern Water, Sutton and East Surrey Water, Thames Water, Veolia Central and Veolia South East – have now announced hosepipe bans, under the Water Use (Temporary Bans) Order 2010.
'Health and safety' in this context includes removing or minimising any risk to human or animal health or safety, as well as preventing or controlling the spread of causative agents of disease.
"The government recognises the importance of washing down boats to minimise the spread of invasive non native species", said a BMF spokesman.
Tuesday 10 April | Andrew Denny | 11.45am, Tuesday 10 April 2012
Thank you Andrew!!!
I saw that, but not a lot of people know that especially gongoozlers! Can you imagine the looks we would get!
ReplyDeleteI don't think I will want to get into explaining mode if questioned by a member of the public.. The River Gr Ouse is extremely clear water usually, that will do!
Probably the wisest course Sue but it is good to know the facts..
DeleteLesley
Oh no, the best excuse in years that we've had for explaining the dusty state of Indigo Dream and you go spoiling it :-)
ReplyDeleteSue, nb Indigo Dream
My humblest apologies are winging their way to you Sue...
ReplyDeleteX Lesley
Now what can I use as an excuse and what the heck, does, 'mimimise the spread of invasive non native species' mean? Can native species still invade us if we don't wash the boat. No sleep for me then tonight for fear of invasion - fine neighbour you've turned out to be, Jill
ReplyDeleteWhatever the government says, using drinking water to wash boats is still completely unnecessary and downright immoral in my book - water shortage or not.
ReplyDeleteHi Sarah
ReplyDeleteI take it you feel strongly about water supply then?
The only water we have aboard the boat is 'potable' drinking water and with this water supply we wash, do our laundry, cook, prepare food, make tea, drink it, wash floors and flush the loo.
Similarly, in the vasy majority of homes in the UK it is the 'drinking water' that is used for all the above tasks and in addition, to fill swimming pools, paddling pools, fish ponds, water the garden, wash the car, wash the windows, clean the patio and decking...
Then there is industry and agriculture ....
The fact is that there is only one standard of readily available water supply to homes, and boats, that is 'drinking standard'.
All other tasks other than food preparation and drinking in a time of water shortage could legitimately be considered 'immoral' but they aren't thank goodness. Hygiene factors apply and is these factors that the Government guidance is based on.
While a hospipe ban apples we haven't washed the boat using a hose and I don't suppose we will...
but given the absence of any other standard of water supply, the only clean water generally is from a tap, it is this that will be used when the time comes to give Yarwood a scrub down.
Lesley
Lesley