The HTA should get real about water conservation

It's made me more than a little irritated to read the Horticulture Trades Association's (HTA) objections to United Utilities hosepipe ban which came into force on the 9th July 2010.

The HTA - established in 1899 - has got to realise that we have a collective responsibility for environmental conservation and as part of that we have an obligation as professionals to help educate gardeners in ways of growing and maintaining plants that adapt and survive during periods of extreme weather.

It's no good winging and whining about garden centres and nurseries suffering because there are less plants going into the ground. What the HTA has to do is compile some advisory notes on the best way to prepare soil in a way that water is effectively retained during drought conditions.

Amateur gardeners often overlook the importance of a deep and healthy root-zone and the need for a good organic mulch or how carefully planted borders can significantly reduce transpiration and respiration as the rays of the sun are hindered or blocked from heating up the soil around the plants.

Whilst United Utilities have a duty to provide essential water to its customers we have to take a pragmatic approach to dealing with an ageing infrastructure. Yes there are leaking pipes but there are also a lot of them and it's a fact of life that there will inevitably be greater failures the older that infrastructure gets.

The HTA needs to start thinking outside of the greenhouse and come into the real world and encourage their members to start supplying water retention products. what about space saving or underground rainwater harvesting tanks with an electric pump for use during times of restriction?

How are you coping with the hosepipe ban - share your water saving ideas.

Comments

[Stuart Marler]

Excellent point here Mr. Voice.
It all goes back to basics and this is certainly what the HTA should be advising.

Well written.

[colin]

i think on a whole a lot of people are trying to utilise more rainwater, as an example a friend of mines wife went out to buy some extra water butts (they only have 2 at the moment). she tried 2x b n q, wickes, homebase and focus all had sold out. that was only a couple of weeks ago

[Andrew Whelan]

I thought you might like to see the press release in full:

7th July 2010

Gardeners call for phased introduction of hosepipe ban

The Horticultural Trades Association (HTA), the trade body for the garden industry, says that United Utilities’ introduction of a hosepipe ban could have been better handled if they had followed the more considered approach that the gardening industry has been suggesting to the water companies and Government since the last drought in 2006.

Tim Briercliffe, HTA Director of Business Development, said, “We welcome the fact that United Utilities is now open to holding discussions with the gardening industry. However, we remain concerned that we were not approached earlier in the process.

“We have been advocating the phased introduction of a hosepipe ban. This involves the use of drip irrigation, evening watering and watering on alternate days with a hosepipe ban being the final option. It also involves consultation with the widest possible group of stakeholders to ensure that clear advice is communicated to all customers affected via nurseries and retailers.

“We recognised the importance of saving water and encourage our members to do so but the introduction of a blanket ban on hosepipes with no phased lead-in is likely to discourage gardeners and be detrimental to nurseries and growers.”

He added, “We intend to work with United Utilities and the rest of the water industry to develop an approach to a hosepipe ban which would save water while having less of an impact on gardeners.”

While the Flood and Water Management Bill 2010 was going through Parliament earlier this year the Government acknowledged that a code of practice on the implementation of a hosepipe ban which involves the water industry and wider stakeholders should be developed which takes into account the needs of gardeners and the horticulture industry.

[Philip Voice]

Thanks for your comments Stuart/Colin

Andrew

Thanks for reproducing your (HTA) press release; you will note that I did link through to this page in the post.

I hope the HTA consider my suggestions about water harvesting and rootzone development as an essential part of plant management?