Two Londoners drove more than 50 miles to Brighton to collect water before bringing it back to the capital and handing it out for free to gardeners affected by the hosepipe ban.
George Lazarides, 30, and Joe Pattern, 27, collected 50 litres of water from Brighton using a friend’s hosepipe and transported it back to London on Monday, August 10.
The pair then distributed the water outside Croxted Road Garden Centre in London and outside Stockwell station.
Mr Lazarides said: "We saw that in London there is a hosepipe ban and in Brighton there is not, but the whole county is drought ridden.
"We wanted to make a point against the water companies on unfair bans and we also wanted to help Londoners and to try to ensure that they could look after their gardens and their green spaces properly.
"It was partly a joke and partly trying to be helpful.
"It is strange one county has a hosepipe ban and another doesn't."
The duo handed out 25 two-litre bottles to around 100 people, labelling each as “legal hosepipe water.”
They also offered water-saving tips to those they met.
A hosepipe ban has been in force across London since July 23, affecting around 10 million homes.
Nine water companies across the UK have imposed similar restrictions, impacting nearly 26 million people.
The bans prohibit the use of hosepipes for watering gardens, washing cars, filling paddling pools and cleaning windows.
Anyone found breaking the rules could face a fine of up to £1,000.
Mr Lazarides said they plan to repeat the giveaway.
He said: "We got a good response so we will definitely do it again.
"We knew that there was going to be another heatwave coming.
"And so we wanted to respond to that.
"When we spoke to people and gardeners they were saying how frustrated they were with the hosepipe ban."
Read more
- 1,500 London bus drivers to strike - more than 40 routes affected
- London's cleanest and dirtiest boroughs for food hygiene have been revealed
- This student is giving away free coffee on the London Underground
Nine water companies have imposed hosepipe bans across the UK.
The restrictions mean hosepipes can't be used for watering gardens, washing cars, allotments, filling paddling pools or swimming pools, or cleaning windows.
Water companies implement the bans to ensure enough water is saved for drinking, vulnerable residents and other essential use.
Anyone caught breaking the rules could be fined up to £1,000.
Share