Saturday, February 25, 2006
"Many people now believe that they are no longer wholly responsible for their actions. It's someone else's fault, or something else's fault - the environment, society and the government" Michael Howard, former Leader of the Opposition in the UK. The current debacle over water shortage in the south east, might have been expected. Record low winter rain over the past three years have depleted already stretched reservoirs to their lowest levels, some say since 1976 !. Goverment are contemplating compulsory water meters for the worst affected areas. But could the current situation have been any different ?. A chronic lack of investment in network & new reservoirs has left us in the un-enviable position we find ourselves in today. The United Kingdom has no national water grid. Connectivity between regions is also not possible. Had we invested in such connectivity & a national water grid we would not be facing water rationing & possible standpipes in the street. 35% of water leaving reservoirs is lost in our creaking, leaking network. It is essential that goverment & the now privatised water companies work together, to build the estimated six new reservoirs that are needed & to ensure a thorough renewal of the pipe network, if not a national network at least connectivity between regions is needed so water can be moved around within the country to where it is needed. Sensible decisions need to be taken now, not when the taps run dry.... Charlie hewitt.mobi Posted at 11:19 am |
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