The cost of flouting the drought

Gareth Fuller/PA Archive/Press Association Images

Water companies unleashed a flurry of anger from consumers yesterday by announcing a new hosepipe ban. The complaints ranged from those who were furious at the fact water companies were still failing to control leaks, to others angry at the controls imposed on domestic consumers while businesses continued to waste water willy-nilly.

A substantial chunk of the Twitterati pledged to flout the ban and face the consequences. However, this could be a very expensive mistake.