Residents have been urged to avoid watering their gardens and washing their cars using hosepipes at home.

The Examiner spoke to members of the public to get their views on Manx Utilities’ call to make ’every drop count’.

This comes after concerns about the low levels recorded at the island’s reservoirs due to the recent and future hot and dry weather conditions.

’The ban is important and I agree with it,’ said Jane Jennings, 56, from Laxey. ’It’s necessary even though it will be painful for people with nice gardens.

’My husband is certainly a keen gardener and so the ban will affect him. He’s the creative one, I just help.

’People will abide by it [the restrictions] but what is strange is that it is starting to rain now. I understand that reservoirs need to brought back to their normal levels.

’There needs to be a bit of careful management as food and animal welfare comes first. I feel most sorry for farmers.’

Jimmy Redmond, 57, from Farmhill, thinks the ban is ’ridiculous’.

’I think a lot of residents will ignore it. You pay your water rates. We’re surrounded by water therefore we should have the technology to convert sea water into fresh water. We’ll see how it goes as I know we’re not due for a lot of rain now.’

He added that he has a water butt for his garden.

Douglas residents Alex Lea, and Jade Foster, 37 and 29, think the ban is necessary.

’Obviously water reserves come first. We have a sprinklers at home, but the garden has been fine at the moment with the rain,’ said Alex.

When asked if they think people will stick to the temporary restrictions, Jade replied: ’Not if you’re a keen gardener.’

Alex continued: ’I think people will abide by it because there’s a fine in place. It’s up to how Manx Utilities manage that really. I don’t think the ban is a problem. I don’t know how it goes on the agricultural basis.’

Laxey resident David Samuels, 61, said: ’Measures have to be taken. It’s drinking water isn’t it?

’We have a medium-sized garden and we’ve got a water butt hooked up to the garage roof, which can hold about 30 gallons.

’If things get worse we’ll just get a bucket and stick it in a river nearby.

’We’ve had a fair bit of showers so our water butt should be quite full. The worse the weather gets the better the herb garden is,’ he said optimistically.

When asked if there are other areas that could be included in the ban, he suggested: ’Wagons and buses that are being cleaned from dust. However, they would need cleaning due to visibility issues.’

Nigel Fraser, 56, from Douglas, said: ’It’s appropriate as the water’s that low at the reservoirs. Being an ex-firefighter I know that the services here would want to have that water saved as much as possible.

’We have to look after the supplies and that’s as simple as that. Once it’s gone it’s gone. It’s not rain.’

He added: ’At least we’re not like the UK, which is having big problems with leakages. We’ve not got water leaking out of the ground.’

â?¢ What are your views on the hosepipe ban? Send them to our letters page by emailing [email protected]