Water shortages and hosepipe bans

I can’t read the article, but yes, I know various bodies have been remiss for many years, ten are in plan, the first due to deliver is in Havant, due in 2031.

I know that Anglian water has been planning new reservoirs for a while now.

Just Googled it now, to see what info is publicly available on it, and this is what AI came up with:

Anglian Water is progressing major plans to build two new large-scale reservoirs in eastern England—one in the Cambridgeshire Fens (in partnership with Cambridge Water) and another in Lincolnshire—aimed at securing future water supplies, protecting chalk streams, and improving regional drought resilience.

Hopefully they are not alone in doing this.

As far as I,m aware there is no water shortage or hosepipe ban here .Fields are green and lush and crops are being harvested from the fields that surround me .
There may be water shortages in the south but surely that’s down to bad management of the system …and big bonuses for the usually men who are gaining in the job they are paid to do .
Water is a necessity why on earth did anyone think privatisation was a good idea? All it did was bring greedy people to the table …people who were never interested in what water services /supply should be and just how much money they could make.
These mainly men,should be jailed for the failure to supply a basic need while boosting their own wealth.
PS water in Scotland has never been privatised.

Water & rail should be nationalised again as soon as we can afford it. & given that there was an immediate gain in share price when the shares were sold off in the 80's / 90's, don't be too generous with the compensation paid to shareholders when they're taken back into public ownership.

Paddyann, you sound so smug, you can't have heard Alex Plant's (CEO of Scottish Water) warnings that water shortages aren't confined to England, and there is already growing scarcity in areas of Scotland.

A synopsis of his blog here, full blog is linked

Scotland is not immune to drought, warns Scottish Water CEO - Water Magazine share.google/n0u49t17yKHZZb6cv

Scotland averages double the rainfall of England paddyann54?

Casdon

Scotland averages double the rainfall of England paddyann54?

Added to which the relative populations (and consequently numbers of water consumers) are vastly different

England is the most populous of the home nations with 58.62 million followed by Scotland at 5.55 million, Wales at 3.19 million and Northern Ireland at 1.93 million.

Casdon

Scotland averages double the rainfall of England paddyann54?

And, observing from the weather forecasts, Scotland has had plenty this summer, compared to the rest of UK, with 1.5 times the average rainfall in August.

No wonder it's green.

I guess all the water we have in Scotland is why the Cairngorms had a horrendous wildfire last month, with firefighters on site for five weeks, only leaving the scene this week.

Well, it did make me wonder why there was a wildfire if all is green and lush.

I hope it's out at last, SueDonim, it sounded horrendous and presumably has been devastating for all the wildlife in the area.

The Tory privatisation of water and sewage as regional monopolies has been a disaster for the public. Burnham should deal with the problem urgently. Nationalisation without compensation would be justified imo given the vast profits they have paid out to shareholders while saddling the companies with massive debts.

Casdon

Scotland averages double the rainfall of England paddyann54?

Scots use four times the amount of water per person than in England.

JenniRen

Well, it did make me wonder why there was a wildfire if all is green and lush.

I hope it's out at last, SueDonim, it sounded horrendous and presumably has been devastating for all the wildlife in the area.

The fire service left this week, the fire started July 15th.

During nine weeks of drought and extreme heat many places had a deluge in between heat waves. Here we had just a few spots of rain every time and still none is forecast.
I’ve been watering my garden since mid June. I’m exempt from the hose ban and hope all you fellow-oldies know that you can be too.

OldFrill

JenniRen

Well, it did make me wonder why there was a wildfire if all is green and lush.

I hope it's out at last, SueDonim, it sounded horrendous and presumably has been devastating for all the wildlife in the area.

The fire service left this week, the fire started July 15th.

The fire crews must be exhausted. Well done them.

Never get hosepipe bans where I live in the North

We’ve had a ban here for what seems like ages. I still water my most precious plants I don’t want to lose with a can but it is hard work and takes a long time. The bird baths are replenished every day and they love it. Five Labrador dogs have their water changed a few times a day because of the heat. I dread to think what our water bill will be.

Several small reservoirs in west London were sold in the late 20th century, becoming the Wetlands Centre and the Leg o'Mutton reserve in Barnes. I'm sure the same was true in other areas. We have to wonder whether these extra water storage facilities would have come in useful now, when despite wet winters we still run short of water.
I agree with paddyann54, the privatisation just brought greedy people to the table, so now what were our "water rates" also have to cover extortionate salaries, unjustifiable bonuses and dividends.
My husband is a retired consulting water engineer who worked all over the world (and sometimes in the UK) on large scale water schemes, often World Bank or EU funded. He and many of his ex-colleagues are all appalled by the state into which our water and sewage systems have fallen. Incompetent board members and managers "pin ball" between the different companies causing damage everywhere, voting themselves salary increases and bonuses as they go.

No reservoirs have been built since the water companies were privatised BUT many smaller ones were closed - another scandal! Also I believe that bottled water companies are still allowed to take the water they need from the aquifers.
You just couldn't make it up.

Their priority is the shareholders! They are under no obligation to improve or even maintain services. Our water was sold off by Mrs Thatcher. Every waterway is now polluted.

I agree that the water companies continue to pay out very large sums to CEOs and shareholders while failing to build reservoirs and repair leaks. The hosepipe ban has so many exemptions that it is risible. People can take as many baths as they want
and use their washing machines and dishwashers as many times as they like while hosepipes are banned.

Nannapat1

I agree that the water companies continue to pay out very large sums to CEOs and shareholders while failing to build reservoirs and repair leaks. The hosepipe ban has so many exemptions that it is risible. People can take as many baths as they want
and use their washing machines and dishwashers as many times as they like while hosepipes are banned.

What you say is true, but it isn't really possible to 'ban' baths or use of washing machines, didswashers etc., is it?
Firstly, their use can't be monitored, and secondly, clean utensils, clothes and bodies are actually quite important.

Luckily, when it becomes necessary for a hosepipe ban to be imposed, many people realise how serious the water situation is becoming, so try to cut down all their water usage to a until things improve. Those who just carry on squandering it, without a care in the world, are just selfish.

Of course, if it gets bad enough to need to go further, whether with standpipes as in '76, or other methods for restricting usage, I dont suppose even they will have any choice then!

But yes, we certainly need a lot of changes at every level (and quite soon) if we want to have a reasonable level of water security in the future, from new reservoirs down to domestic facilitues for the storage and re-use of both rainwater and grey water.

People with water meters use up to 20% less water than those not metered. Around 60% of English/Welsh homes are metered, there is a drive to improve on this.
The loopholes in hose bans being exploited by fit healthy pensioners beggars belief.

I do agree with you OldFrill, just because you may doesn’t mean to say you should! I totally agree that bonuses are obscene but it is ourselves we hurt by using water too liberally.