I watched The News on TV, almost in disbelief. They were warning us (yet again) of a water shortage this Summer.
Yes, I know it's hardly rained down here this year, but generally the UK is not short of rain. In parts of the country it usually rains 360 days a year, but not this year.
This recent drastic mains burst (above) was near Gloucester, and is not too uncommon.
I remember reading some time ago that a staggering 40% of our water is lost through small underground burst pipes; apparently too many for the Water Co's to do anything about. So it's hardly surprising that we are short of a few gallons!
Whilst the bosses of the Water Co's take home HUGE salaries, the rest of us are threatened with ever-higher bills, and dried-up taps. We are being told to shower for shorter periods, and not to let the tap run whilst brushing our teeth, etc. Maybe not to drink too much either!
So, will someone in authority please pull your bloody finger out. We need Water just as much as we need Farmers.
What is more important than good clean drinking water (and home grown food)?
Southern water is digging up a main route into Southampton to find a leak, it's chaos, it's boss recently said the problem with water supplies is that we households use too much water!!!
ReplyDeleteHe's right; we all drink too much!
DeleteI may be wrong but despite the population increase I can't recall any new reservoirs being built. It could have something to do with it but what do I know? I guess it is the upside of having collapsed our manufacturing base.
ReplyDeleteAnd maybe we should build a few desalination plants too!
DeleteThames Water have a desalination plant, but I don't think that it has ever worked properly.
DeleteWhat is more important than good clean drinking water (and home grown food)? Hull City A.F.C., the sun, the moon, sex and liquorice.
ReplyDeleteWhy on earth water bosses continue to get fat bonuses is beyond me. I would give them public floggings instead.
Bonuses (and salaries) should be based on customer satisfaction as well as company profits. I have nothing to moan about for the moment, but I still think their salaries are far too high.
DeleteI didn't know the Hull City Air Force Club was still going!
Your points are well taken!
ReplyDeleteElected/appointed officials should be paid for performance. Bad performance/decisions ideally should reduce pay, eliminate bonus, and maybe even get the boot.
Solving problems should be given priority!
Getting the system working properly SHOULD be their priority, but I suspect they concentrate more on their bonuses!
DeleteIt happens everywhere. It took the council over 2 years to replace the water pipes down our road. Spectacular fountains were a regular occurrence and it would take days to stop the leaks. The next day the fountain would explode up wards a few years further down.
ReplyDeleteLast year there was a hosepipe ban and I'm sure we will have another this summer. We have a small desalination plant. I can see that being expanded.
The new leak 'exploded' a few Metres further down.....
DeleteYes, I remember you writing about the leaks in your road. They happen everywhere!
DeleteIt’s more than just executive pay Cro. When Thatcher sold off the water companies in the late 1980’s their debt was written off. Over the next 30 odd years, the water companies borrowed closed to £50bn - almost as much as was paid out to shareholders during that period.
ReplyDeleteI wonder what they did with all that money, nothing seems to have improved.
DeletePaid it out in dividends
DeleteJust read your Biba post ..... must have missed it ! I was in Biba every minute I got. I loved the Church Street shop and still have a jacket that I bought there. I've told this before but my jacket was on The Antiques Roadshow { How old does that make me feel ! } She valued it at £800 and that was a while ago. As many have said, it lost a certain something when they moved to the High Street. It was such a good time to be in London. XXXX
ReplyDeleteThe big Derry and Toms store was all wrong. It lost its 'boutique' feeling, and became just another big shop. I'm sure she regretted it.
DeleteHere in the NE we have Kielder reservoir, originally forecast to cater for the needs of Tyneside and the Tees industrial complex. Since the destruction of Teesside heavy industry we have plenty of domestic water, I cannot remember the last time we had a hosepipe ban.
ReplyDeleteI'm not sure where our water comes from, but usually it is reliable and clean! In France we have Spring Water that is pumped from about 2 miles away.
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