Horrid neighbour

What a moron he sounds. I'd have turned the hose on the fool.

His attitude only makes sense if you wet him, so sorry I think you may have watered down the story somewhat ( see what I did there)

He was bad mannered and aggressive. Is he normally like that or just fractious/intoxicated in part due to the heat?
Whilst I agree with the posters who question the sense in watering plants in the heat of the day that wasn't the issue here. Nor was he complaining about getting wet himself or the ethics of using water when a shortage is looming. He was simply being obnoxious.
OP, just ignore him (and try to water surreptitiously in the evening)

I don't think you should have been wasting water with a hosepipe in the afternoon, what a waste of water.

It is quite easy to spray further than you think and quite possible you wet him more than you think. For the sake of neighbourly relations I think you should have apologised. There could be many reasons he was grumpy but there would have been no reason for his complaint if you hadn't wet him.

Are you sure he wasn't drunk? Sounds like it to me.

Those of us who have our water services provided by United Utilities are getting a hosepipe ban starting on August 5th, unless we have torrential rain for at least two weeks before that date!
We've been saving water for an absolute age, using shower water, washing up water etc to fill buckets and watering cans, but obviously some in our area have shown a total disregard for requests to save water.
So, although your neighbour was rude, forgive me if I have no sympathy for someone who was using a hosepipe in the heat of the day when most of the water would just evaporate and therefore do the plants no good at all!

We have a gardener who cuts our lawns and keeps shrubs bushes n trees trimmed. He hasn't been for a few weeks because of the lovely weather, but told us of a neighbour who had complained about the nose of his tools last time he visited!!
He only visits between 2/3 weeks and not all year! My hubby is in his 80s and we have a very large garden.
I think we know who it is! I put it down to the hot weather!!

Suppose he was sitting there happily reading a book and quite a lot of water spray came over the fence?
Much better just to say sorry and be careful with the watering in future, whatever you think about his attitude I would have thought.

Oh he was very rude!!! BUT better to water early a.m or late p.m.to benefit plants.

Fair point ga but it dosen't excuse the rudeness.

He sounds a bit unhinged.

If you were watering plants during the heat of the afternoon perhaps your neighbour was concerned that his plants would be scorched.

As long as I wasn't getting wet I'd be greatful for any water that landed on my garden.
Silly man !

The water companies have asked people to be careful about their use of water and not to use hose pipes to water gardens or wash their cars.

I've used the hose pipe on the tubs and in the greenhouse because I can't life several watering cans. I haven't watered the borders or established plants but I have watered the new climbers I put in otherwise they'd die.
if I was growing vegetables I'd water them but I wouldn't water flowers in the borders with the hose. I've been re-cycling any water used for washing up etc and pouring it on the borders.
By the way - I'm not having a go at your, just wondering if that's what rattled your neighbours cage. Do you usually get on well?

Did you soak him when he was sitting out in his garden?

He needs cooling down anyway by the sounds of it.