Drought?!

[Nicos]

Just spotted this....

BBC News - Drought fears for Britain prompt water summit

Perhaps we should all be preparing well in advance?
I have 2 more 1,000litre containers which need connecting - sounds like we'll really be needing them this year!

I imagine there will be a shortage of waterbutts etc as the dry weather sets in?

Best to make plans now me thinks!

[rustylady]

Here we go again!!! My garden and allotment are saturated at the moment. What the water companies need to do is repair all their leaks.

[snuffer]

Here we go again!!! My garden and allotment are saturated at the moment. What the water companies need to do is repair all their leaks.

Couldn't agree more rustylady. Another privatised utility making heaps of profit for the shareholders while we (the paying customers) have to put up with a second rate service.

I will, ofcourse, be doing my bit to save water by filling the water butts but it is annoying that we have to listen to the same old story every time we have a dry period.

[Thelma Sanders]

Enough of it falls, I don't think that the water companies save enough of it.

I have waterbuts and can do no more

[veggiechicken]

If you run out of water, send a SAE and I'll send you some by return!

[cardiffsteve]

And water companies are putting up water rates!

Water bills in England and Wales to rise 5.7% in April

BBC News - Water bills in England and Wales to rise 5.7% in April

[veggiechicken]

That's to reflect its scarcity value! Water will be a collector's item before long!

[Peppermint]

That's to reflect its scarcity value! Water will be a collector's item before long!

I must be rich then A lot of it is pooling on my front lawn. And a new 'loch' has formed in the field next door.

[Chef_uk]

Heard this on the news tonight for Lincolnshire. We need a wet Spring don't we but if it's going to be like the last two then that's highly unlikely.

[Headfry]

3 leaks on my 7 mile trip to work!!!
What they water works people need to do is move the water around the UK.... or can they do this already?
South very dry - north very wet...simples
South hundreds more houses being built - even less water to go round ??????
If dry winters are to become the norm, maybe the bigger picture needs looking at ..... and soon me thinks.
I try to save all the water I can and use it with care winter or summer.

[Two_Sheds]

South very dry - north very wet...simples

South lots of money, north not so much

Governments don't commit to anything long-term, because the cost will frighten "the taxpayer" and they'll be turfed out of office

Water companies are businesses, and in the business of making profit. They won't commit to the infrastructure because it will reduce profits

[veggiechicken]

They already capture water in Wales and pipe it to the Midlands. We still have plenty to spare but don't flush your loos all at the same time!

[Thelma Sanders]

South lots of money, north not so much

we don't all work in banks you know

Just a thought - does the 'supposed' southern affluence lead to less water from the sky?

[Potstubsdustbins]

Whilst I agree the water companies have some way to go with their record of leak repairs it must be remembered that an awful amount of the underground pipework is very, very old and there are thousands of miles of it.

There are also other influences at work. I remember Carsington Water reservoir being built, quite a novel idea at the time. The reservoir was to be filled in the winter by pumping excess water over 6 miles from the river Derwent into the catchment, thus saving water and reducing the risk of flooding down stream. Then of course during a dry summer the water would be let back down into the river, travel down the river to a treatment plant and bingo no water shortage.

Trouble is since it was opened in 1992 it has turned into a place of great natural beauty and is used for sailing, trout fishing and because of the wild bird population by ornithologist's. Not to mention ramblers, cyclist's and horse riders.

And guess what these people don't want the water level lowered in the summer months, neither do the locals as tourism bring good money.

Colin

[Hilary B]

The biggest problem is that we all (well nearly all) use water prepared to be fit for drinking to flush the loo (among other uses that don't need that quality).
I don't know how much industry uses 'normal tap water' for processes that could as well be done with untreated, but I bet it's plenty!
When (if) we end up living on the place in Spain, I will want to grow a LOT of veg, but I plan on a 'grey water' irrigation system. First acquire a suitable storage tank, I think we will build a concrete one and add a pond liner......