UK NEWS

BONE DRY BRITAIN RUNS OUT OF WATER

The River Wallington

Saturday May 12,2007

By Jo Macfarlane

Comment Speech Bubble Have your say(9)

BRITAIN is facing another summer of hosepipe bans, with droughts expected across much of the country.

This April was one of the hottest and driest on record, and rainfall so far in May has not even reached average levels for the time of year, despite days of showers.

And with forecasters warning of another long, hot, dry summer ahead, the situation is only going to get worse.

Environment Agency spokesman Joe Giacomelli warned that most rivers and some reservoirs across Britain were below average for the time of year. He said reservoir levels had begun to decline earlier because of the dry, hot April.

Groundwater and aquifer levels have also fallen over the last few weeks.

And while he said water restrictions across the normally dry south-east of England were unlikely because of replenished ground water supplies, the rest of England and Wales could face some problems. “This exceptionally dry weather means that reservoir levels are already falling and river flows are very low,” he added.

The exceptionally dry weather means that reservoir levels are already falling.

Joe Giacomelli, Environment Agency

“Continued dry weather through the rest of the spring and the summer would mean reservoirs falling quickly, possibly reaching low levels in late summer. If this happens, restrictions like hosepipe bans could prove necessary.”

Gary Smith, GMB national officer for the water industry, said: “If we have areas not previously suffering from droughts that have low levels in reservoirs then that’s deeply concerning.

“We would again point out that what we need is a strategic body to oversee the water needs of the country. Urgent consideration also needs to be given to the levels of leakage and other water resources being maintained correctly. If consumers think companies are not managing resources there’s a credibility problem.”

Water companies were heavily criticised last year for imposing domestic water restrictions but failing to manage leaks properly themselves.

This week, industry watchdog Ofwat was accused by an influential group of MPs of failing millions of households by refusing to get tough with water companies on the issue.

It has had the power since 2005 to fine companies up to 10 per cent of their turnover for failing to meet leakage targets and other blunders.

But it only imposed its first fine, on United Utilities, last month and at a level far less than its powers allowed, the Public Accounts Committee said.

TELL IT TO THE CHILDREN BEING RECUED FROM DARTMOOR

13.05.07, 10:45am

Increase the population by flooding the UK with immigrants and water will not be the only necessity in short supply!

• Posted by: The_Way_I_See_It • Report Comment

ENOUGH PEOPLE ALREADY

13.05.07, 6:47am

We allow one million polish who have water to come here and compound the problem, ridiculous.

• Posted by: WHAT4 • Report Comment

WATER COMPANIES MAKE ME SICK

13.05.07, 4:37am

Water companies are RIP OFF merchants, they earn VAST profits at our expence with the poorest county "Cornwall" having the highest charges in entire UK, workers salaries are the LOWEST in the UK, yet, we are supposed to foot the bill for the amount of water utilized by the holiday makers, which is far from being just, the cornish population are RIPPED OFF year upon year by South West Water.
There is absolutely NO NEED for any water shortages any where in the entire country, the middle east receives ver-very little rain fall in comparison to the UK with an equal or higher population, yet, there are no water shortages, no hose pipe bans, why, because the build Deselination Plants that turn sea water into pure drinking water, at a fraction of the cost per person of that of the UK, why oh why do we stand for being Ripped Off year after year and why does the Goverment permit the water companies to earn such vast profits without ant benefits being passed on to us, the Government permits the Manager & Executives of the wayer companies to award themselve millions in bonus payments for increased profits at our expense.

• Posted by: kward369 • Report Comment

COLLECTING RAIN WATER IS GREAT

13.05.07, 12:46am

RUN OUT OF WATER - WHY?

I fully agree with this on water collection and reuse of grey water, I have 1100ltr under ground tank and 2 x 700ltr surface tanks, if I had the area to store grey water for toilet flushing I would, I use a lot of it for gargen use to keep metered costs down, as for water meter cost they is no charge if you get in now, no hole in street they just fit under sink or where ever pipe enters house in my area with a second lcd meter display outside for them to read.
One gripe with meter charges is it includes chare to take away rainwater so mine goes into the tanks with overflow to soakaway, as no rain water goes down sewers I get reduced charges, I wish I had room for more tanks so I couold stop my overflow soakaway letting it back into the ground for them to sell it back to me.

• Posted by: CAN • Report Comment

NO SUCH THING AS A FREE LUNCH

13.05.07, 12:25am

Desalination may be an option if YOU are prepared to pay the cost, Water was privatised because of the MAINTENANCE COST, if the country had kept it mainained it would have cost a a hell of a lot more than it does privatised, as for people who do not think we should pay for water then explain how it is going to get filtered and treated so it is safe to drink, waste should be stopped so lets do it striaght away and charge the consumer what it costs, ok limit the profits the water companies can make but that alone will not replace ALL the old faulty water mains, metering is the fairest option to cut back consumer waste. Water is cheap when compared the the bottled water you all buy and you don't even have to go collect it it's piped to you in with the price. Anyone who invests in the utilities or anything else does it for the profit, why else? Nationalise it again and see the cost soar like the cost of everything councils and goverments run as all the workers want top wages with goldplated pensions.

• Posted by: CAN • Report Comment

RUN OUT OF WATER - WHY?

13.05.07, 12:13am

I agree that water meters may be the answer but who is going to pay to dig up the road/path etc in front of EVERY home in the country? Firstly I think a much cheaper and cost effective solution would be for the water companies to get to grips with the water leakage problem and get their own ‘house in order’! Secondly all new homes should include facilities to collect and filter rain and ‘non foul’ waste water to be used for flushing toilets and only use ‘mains’ water for this as a ‘last resort’! I would not think that it would cost more than a few hundred pounds per house if it was carried out during the building of homes.

• Posted by: Cynical_sid • Report Comment