[MJH]

Just a word of warning I have just received a letter from Thames water warning me that they intend to to take legal action against me for the illegal use of a fire hydrant. The thing is i have never used a hydrant in my life  (I have a static r/o unit with storage tank) The other strange thing is that in my area Severn Trent are responsible for both mains supply and sewage matters but the letter has an air of being a standard letter that they've sent out to window cleaners. I wondered if they had got my details through the yellow pages or off the internet and they were just trying to use scare tactics to catch me if I was using hydrants. Whatever the case I have tried ringing them to clarify the situation but the number they give just goes to  a permanent answerphone and therefore (despite leaving messages) I have no reason as to why they have written to me. Whatever the case it has certainly made me think twice about the possible use of a hydrant. By the way the letter makes no mention of the actual cost of the license. Does anyone actually know how much one costs?     

thats slander they can't make accusations without evidence, muppets! You could do them!

There is slander and there is libel.  Generally slander is spoken and libel is written (though there are some exceptions to this).  However, the letter quoted above is neither.  It would only be potentially libellous if they wrote the letter to a third party accusing him of it.  I believe I could write to you in a closed envelope accusing you of all manner of things but that would not be libel.  It might be harassment that that's another matter entirely.
The other question is "What am I doing cleaning windows when I should be training as a lawyer?"   

if its neither of the above its bloody unprofessional, if you wrote to the water board in that manner im sure they would have something to say

[Paul Coleman]

Just a word of warning I have just received a letter from Thames water warning me that they intend to to take legal action against me for the illegal use of a fire hydrant. The thing is i have never used a hydrant in my life  (I have a static r/o unit with storage tank) The other strange thing is that in my area Severn Trent are responsible for both mains supply and sewage matters but the letter has an air of being a standard letter that they've sent out to window cleaners. I wondered if they had got my details through the yellow pages or off the internet and they were just trying to use scare tactics to catch me if I was using hydrants. Whatever the case I have tried ringing them to clarify the situation but the number they give just goes to  a permanent answerphone and therefore (despite leaving messages) I have no reason as to why they have written to me. Whatever the case it has certainly made me think twice about the possible use of a hydrant. By the way the letter makes no mention of the actual cost of the license. Does anyone actually know how much one costs?     

thats slander they can't make accusations without evidence, muppets! You could do them!

There is slander and there is libel.  Generally slander is spoken and libel is written (though there are some exceptions to this).  However, the letter quoted above is neither.  It would only be potentially libellous if they wrote the letter to a third party accusing him of it.  I believe I could write to you in a closed envelope accusing you of all manner of things but that would not be libel.  It might be harassment that that's another matter entirely.
The other question is "What am I doing cleaning windows when I should be training as a lawyer?"   

if its neither of the above its bloody unprofessional, if you wrote to the water board in that manner im sure they would have something to say

I totally agree.  It's outrageous.  In fact, it's so outrageous, I wondered if it was actually someone doing a spoof.

[gsw]

does anyone know:


if having a licence and using hydrants to fill avoids the hosepipe ban as and when it comes?

with the increased pressure poleman how long does it take to fill a 600l tank through a 40 40 ? roughly

thanks

[WCE]

Well shiner I wondered if it was the a spoof myself but if you ring the number listed it is a Thames water number. Has anyone else received one? Whatever their reasons for writing and weather it is slander or libel. It certainly is unprofessional.       

[MJH]

You could always reply in writing F. OFF springs to mind

[poleman]

does anyone know:


if having a licence and using hydrants to fill avoids the hosepipe ban as and when it comes?

with the increased pressure poleman how long does it take to fill a 600l tank through a 40 40 ? roughly

thanks

We had a 160 psi pump and think it would take 2 hours (I think) we stop for lunch (hour or so) and fill up so never really filled a 1000lts just keep it topped up, be honest with you! it was a pain, if you wont to beat a WFP ban, set up a rain harvest

Andy

[williamx]

Just a word of warning I have just received a letter from Thames water warning me that they intend to to take legal action against me for the illegal use of a fire hydrant. The thing is i have never used a hydrant in my life  (I have a static r/o unit with storage tank) The other strange thing is that in my area Severn Trent are responsible for both mains supply and sewage matters but the letter has an air of being a standard letter that they've sent out to window cleaners.    

I think that the letter is a hoax, because why would Thames Water write to you when you are a Severn Trent Customer.

Send the letter to OFWAT, they will some sort it out with Thames water if they are responsible, and they don't have proof that you are breaking the law.

[cbcs]

Using a F/H (Fire Hydrant) is illegal.

You get issued with a licence so you can use a W/O (Wash out hydrant) not a F/H.

I pay £1.82 per day for my licence anywhere in Yorkshire.

[Simply Clean Windows]

I received the same letter from thames water about 3 weeks ago,i just filed it, i dont use fire hydrants to fill up,so it does not effect me,they are just warning people that they will take legal action against anyone who uses a fire hydrant without a license.

Malcolm

[Paul Coleman]

I received the same letter from thames water about 3 weeks ago,i just filed it, i dont use fire hydrants to fill up,so it does not effect me,they are just warning people that they will take legal action against anyone who uses a fire hydrant without a license.

Malcolm

If I used Thames Water for my RO, it would take quite a lot of filtering because although I don't get my water supply from them, they do take my sewage.  Quite appropriate really as it sounds like they are full of certain stuff.

[gsw]

Using a F/H (Fire Hydrant) is illegal.

You get issued with a licence so you can use a W/O (Wash out hydrant) not a F/H.

I pay £1.82 per day for my licence anywhere in Yorkshire.

I only have 300 l tank fitted at the moment and can just about make this last me a day! so if I were to start filling from W/O as you suggest how easy is it and how fast could i fill it? I am thinking that I can up my flow rate for work so that I can work faster and not have to worry about conserving water at every possible instance!!! I assume you let your waste water from the 40 40 just run off down the drain whilst filling.

all help from W/O fillers welcome!!!! before I buy a new van and a bigger tank!!

cheers
Greg

[poleman]

I use to fill up from a hydrant! (as I have stated above) and it was a pain, for me it was a stop gap, then I got a static system, much better then sat in the van and it use to p*** of the residents as it use to drop the water pressure in the road!

Andy

[gsw]

cheers Andy, just trying to work out the most cost effective solution, on a meter at home and 300 l just isn't enough for all day. so it may have to be a bigger van after all!!!

[poleman]

No pros, it was just a pain, some times we spent a hour or so just looking for a hydrant that we could open, as some had not been opened for years

Andy

[williamx]

cheers Andy, just trying to work out the most cost effective solution, on a meter at home and 300 l just isn't enough for all day. so it may have to be a bigger van after all!!!

Why don't you take a couple of di tanks with you and fill up at some customers homes, with their permission of course.

[clunk1977]

hi all i window cleaning trad at moment in my four days off from work and my other job is on the tanker jetters working for anglian water we use hydrants that have been assinged to us as we can fill a 2000 gallon tank in 15 minutes.

as regards standpipes we get charged for rental of a proper anglian water issued hydrant plus daily usage.

would strongly recommend not using any old hydrant as those water guys check up on us regular and can be quite an arsy bunch

cheers clunk

[Captain Scarlet]

I remember the last time we discussed this topic, it went on for weeks, Luke

[MJH]

I remember the last time we discussed this topic, it went on for weeks, Luke

And im still unsure if its worthwhile!!

[poleman]

I remember the last time we discussed this topic, it went on for weeks, Luke

And im still unsure if its worthwhile!!

From someone that has used a hydrant to fill up, its a pain in the ass and is not worth it, for me it was just a stop gap, to I got a static system

Andy