I think a hosepipe ban is probably imminent, at least in the worst affected parts of the country. Why on earth they haven't joined up all the networks so water could be transferred from one part to another, goodness only knows.
Because water is VERY heavy to move, unlike gas and electricity, ( compare carrying a watering can full of air ( gas ) compared with one full of water ) so a nationwide network is virtually impossible to consider.
Not as expensive as you might imagine, there is a basic infrastructure, it's called the inland waterways, eg the Llangollen canal is used to carry 50 million litres of water a day to supply water to South Cheshire.
There are about 4,700 miles of navigable canals and rivers in the UK which are more or less connected
Why more money isn't pumped into the waterways system to carry goods around the country, which would be greener and more economical I'm not sure when you consider the cost of building more and more motorways and of course HS2. But on the other hand, we'd lose many 'places of tranquillity'. Birmingham is said to have more canal miles than Venice, so even if the industrial areas used the system, think of the benefits, eg less noise, pollution, and it's probably safer.
We have a borehole and plenty of storage so won't struggle when the spring runs dry (and it's not far off). These pics are of Pennine reservoirs 2 weeks ago now, we haven't had any significant rain up here since February.
Pictures that should be a warning - just thinking outloud, there are countries that are cloud seeding, ie. UAE, China and I think Canada.... are they having an impact? Eg 'steeling' rain?
We didn't have a meter in our last house, everyone said they cost a fortune. Always been careful. We moved from a tiny 1930s cottage.... just the 2 of us,paid £23 pcm, moved to a detached bungalow paid £11 pcm 10 years ago, metered,was staggered. Obviously it's gone up now. 2018,no rain for 2 months. 6 water butts, obviously empty,there was no hosepipe ban, but I put the plug in,cut showers to twice a week and got out every last drop, from the bath, using a cup in the end,to water the plants,veg. Then you have the neighbours with the sprinklers going. I'm staggered you still get people in Sainsbury's buying bottle water in plastic!!! A few years earlier after a very wet winter and spring,we did have a hosepipe ban
I think a hosepipe ban is probably imminent, at least in the worst affected parts of the country. Why on earth they haven't joined up all the networks so water could be transferred from one part to another, goodness only knows.
Because water is VERY heavy to move, unlike gas and electricity, ( compare carrying a watering can full of air ( gas ) compared with one full of water ) so a nationwide network is virtually impossible to consider.
Not as expensive as you might imagine, there is a basic infrastructure, it's called the inland waterways, eg the Llangollen canal is used to carry 50 million litres of water a day to supply water to South Cheshire.
There are about 4,700 miles of navigable canals and rivers in the UK which are more or less connected
Why more money isn't pumped into the waterways system to carry goods around the country, which would be greener and more economical I'm not sure when you consider the cost of building more and more motorways and of course HS2. But on the other hand, we'd lose many 'places of tranquillity'. Birmingham is said to have more canal miles than Venice, so even if the industrial areas used the system, think of the benefits, eg less noise, pollution, and it's probably safer.
Yorkshire is all linked together too since the last drought. IIRC it was in the 90s and they were actually tankering water in. Water is cheap easy to move when you collect it high up and send it down to the towns below as it usually the case.
We have a borehole and plenty of storage so won't struggle when the spring runs dry (and it's not far off). These pics are of Pennine reservoirs 2 weeks ago now, we haven't had any significant rain up here since February.
Pictures that should be a warning - just thinking outloud, there are countries that are cloud seeding, ie. UAE, China and I think Canada.... are they having an impact? Eg 'steeling' rain?
I have no idea, but i'm sure Google will have the answer. Maybe the winds coming over the seas pick it up on the way here.
I remember as a child in the drought of 1976 having to share bathwater, then at the end my Dad ran a hosepipe through the window and siphoned it off to water the garden with. I'm currently building my own rainwater harvesting system so I can water the plants all year round for free.
Yes @Hostafan1, but if it's all piped all over the country, why can't the pipes be connected?
We're not on mains sewers, and there's no mains gas within 10 miles. I have friends who live nearby who aren't even on mains water. Lack of long term investment would seem to be the answer. Has any government of the last 100 years really looked any further forward than the next election? Who would pay for that infrastructure? those in the SE of England who would be the principle beneficiaries? I can't see Scotland paying for massive pipes to pump water south of the border.
My impression is that water companies are working hard on the water conservation, usage and reservoir aspects. That makes a big difference. The SE is one of driest areas and has good reservoir capacity. Some areas in the north of England, that has had historically less drought problems, have more limited storing capacity, because they hadn't needed it.
Metering does help with knowing (as a consumer) if you have leaks. There really is no other way of finding out - if the leak is outside or on the street. So in terms of water conservation, I support that. As a caveat, you do have to check and monitor your own usage with a meter - they don't do it for you. It's also made me much more aware and cautious with usage - which, in the dry south east, can only be a good thing.
This post explains my siphon set up to re-use bath and shower water, if anyone is interested. I use it from April to October but keep the hose system permanently rigged - attached to the drain pipe, hung outside the bathroom window. Works well for me.
There's been water leaking into the ( other side of the )road outside my house for nearly 3 months. Guys keep coming and looking at it, but nothing is ever done. Until everyone has a meter, the water companies have no idea how much is wasted in leakage. If they knew how much they pumped out, compared with how much water their customers use, they'd find out, but they expect The Government ( ie US ) to pay for them. If someone cares to give me one benefit to the domestic consumer from the privitised water companies , I'd love to hear it. I read a while ago that the ONS said water prices have gone up 140% above inflation since privitisation. We, the customers, have no choice in who supplies our water, so these companies are just private monopoly suppliers.
I'm staggered you still get people in Sainsbury's buying bottle water in plastic!!!
Yes that's us. The mains water in our village comes from a bore-hole and is stored in a covered reservoir where it is treated with all sorts and ends up tasting like **** Given that we like to drink water, we have little choice really.
Clay soil - Cheshire/Derbyshire border. I play with plants and soil and sometimes it's successful
Posts
There are about 4,700 miles of navigable canals and rivers in the UK which are more or less connected
Why more money isn't pumped into the waterways system to carry goods around the country, which would be greener and more economical I'm not sure when you consider the cost of building more and more motorways and of course HS2. But on the other hand, we'd lose many 'places of tranquillity'. Birmingham is said to have more canal miles than Venice, so even if the industrial areas used the system, think of the benefits, eg less noise, pollution, and it's probably safer.
Cambridgeshire/Norfolk border.
Pictures that should be a warning - just thinking outloud, there are countries that are cloud seeding, ie. UAE, China and I think Canada.... are they having an impact? Eg 'steeling' rain?
Cambridgeshire/Norfolk border.
Water is cheap easy to move when you collect it high up and send it down to the towns below as it usually the case.
I remember as a child in the drought of 1976 having to share bathwater, then at the end my Dad ran a hosepipe through the window and siphoned it off to water the garden with.
I'm currently building my own rainwater harvesting system so I can water the plants all year round for free.
Lack of long term investment would seem to be the answer.
Has any government of the last 100 years really looked any further forward than the next election?
Who would pay for that infrastructure? those in the SE of England who would be the principle beneficiaries?
I can't see Scotland paying for massive pipes to pump water south of the border.
🚿
Until everyone has a meter, the water companies have no idea how much is wasted in leakage.
If they knew how much they pumped out, compared with how much water their customers use, they'd find out, but they expect The Government ( ie US ) to pay for them.
If someone cares to give me one benefit to the domestic consumer from the privitised water companies , I'd love to hear it.
I read a while ago that the ONS said water prices have gone up 140% above inflation since privitisation.
We, the customers, have no choice in who supplies our water, so these companies are just private monopoly suppliers.
Yes that's us. The mains water in our village comes from a bore-hole and is stored in a covered reservoir where it is treated with all sorts and ends up tasting like **** Given that we like to drink water, we have little choice really.
I play with plants and soil and sometimes it's successful