Political Crossfire Forums

[Pebble]

Does anyone else see the flaw in the South East having to go through hosepipe bans and the like whilst Wales has a surplus of water? It is just a smaller, and admitedly much, much less significant version of the Famine in Africa versus European Food Moutains debacle.

Why do we not have a national system of water procurement or somesuch? These smaller private companies would appear to be failing us.

Quote:
Three more hosepipe bans come in

The South East is in the grip of its driest period in almost 80 years
Three more water firms in the south-east of England are bringing in hosepipe bans for domestic customers in the drought-hit region.

Folkestone and Dover Water's (FDWS) restriction came into force on Sunday, while Thames Water and Three Valleys Water will follow suit on Monday.

The bans follow two successive dry winter periods in the South East.

There are now seven water companies operating bans on hosepipes or sprinklers in the region.

In March, a government ruling gave FDWS the power to force its customers to install water meters.

'Tougher restrictions'

Spokesman Gavin McHale said of the hosepipe restrictions: "We are asking customers to use watering cans in the garden and a bucket to wash cars

"Sensible water savings can make a big difference and will enable us to cope much better with a dry and hot summer.

"It is very unlikely that we will have to consider standpipes but if the non-essential use of water is not reduced then other tougher restrictions may have to be brought in."

It's not a little bit of dry weather, it's two consecutive very dry winters
Nick Tennet, from Thames Water

FDWS said any domestic customers found using a hosepipe as of Sunday would be reminded of the ban and asked to comply.

Legal enforcement of the ban would be used as a last resort, the company said.

It also warned that if the water shortage worsened then non-domestic restrictions were possible, for example on car washes and the watering of parks and golf courses.


TURNING OFF THE HOSES

The first water company to institute a hosepipe ban was Southern Water in June 2005

Mid-Kent Water, South East Water, Sutton & East Surrey and Cholderton & East District Water all followed

From Monday, hosepipe bans will also be enforced by Thames Water and Three Valleys Water

A hosepipe left on for an hour uses 1,000 litres of water - equal to the average person's consumption for six days

Source: Environment Agency

Nick Tennet, from Thames Water, which has eight million customers, blamed a lack of rainfall on the company's decision to introduce a ban from Monday.

He said: "It's not a little bit of dry weather, it's two consecutive very dry winters.

"It is normally very, very wet at this time of year. It's not, it's bone dry and that's why we need this hosepipe ban."

A spokesman for the Campaign for Water Justice criticised the bans.

Neil Fishpool told the BBC: "It may be below average rainfall but specialists in climatology predicted that this was going to happen.

"I would look to solve this problem by moving water from the wet north to dry south."

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/kent/4867990.stm

[antonio62]

Yes its stupid that we have surpuluses in some areas and shortages in others but better solution would be just to save water. It would probably cost a lot to put pipes connecting the whole country to put water through.

[bob.appleyard]

One of the important factors here is Thames Water not bothering to maintain the pipes properly. They lose something like a third of their water to leaks.

It just isn't profitable to run public works well.

[Ssushi]

The whole idea of privatising services like this is nuts! As if they were ever going to invest in infrastructure when they have a captive market - the water companies are way more likely to show consideration to their share holders than their customers....