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Penelope Anderson
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tahir
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Jb
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dougal
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Behemoth
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Blue Peter
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dougal
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dpack
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oldhibberd
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dougal
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Behemoth
Joined: 01 Dec 2004
Posts: 19023
Location: Leeds
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 Posted: Fri Feb 03, 06 9:59 am Post subject: |
 
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Penelope's post obviously prompted the Govt Minister to do something. .....
Drought in the south east � Minister urges �use water sensibly now�
Environment and Climate Change Minister Elliot Morley today urged consumers, businesses and water companies to be mindful of their own role in preventing a serious water shortage in the south east.
Mr Morley said:
�People will remember the hosepipe bans of last summer, when low rainfall was a cause for concern. Six months on some of those bans are still in effect as the dry winter adds to pressure on the water supply. Speculation this week about the prospect of serious drought across the region is not misplaced.
�Emergency measures, such as the use of standpipes, aren�t inevitable this summer however if we take steps now to ensure that we are using water sensibly.
�No single body can make this happen. It is not simply down to the water companies, or to Government, or to consumers, to take action. Only a joint effort from every one of us to understand what we can do, and then do it, will reduce the risk of shortages should this period of low rainfall extend to the summer.
�Consumers and businesses can telephone water companies or visit their websites for advice on making more efficient use of their water. This doesn�t mean draconian cutbacks, but common sense ways of ensuring water isn�t just wasted.
�Action by consumers must be matched by action from water companies, and I am expecting water companies to use the range of options set out in their Drought Plans to maximise efficiency and minimise disruption to supply.
�In England and Wales companies have achieved nearly a 30% reduction in leakage since 1994, which equates to the amount of water consumed by 10 million people. Consumers and businesses can help water companies make further reductions by reporting visible leaks. But some companies missed their targets last year, and their performance has to improve. They are reminded that their customers will expect them to demonstrate an improvement in leakage rates as one of the measures they take before seeking a drought order.
�It is easy to hope that action taken by someone else, somewhere else, means the rest of us can continue to take our water supply for granted. The uncomfortable truth is that we cannot, and that action by every one of us in our own homes and workplaces can make a real difference.�
Mr Morley is speaking today at Source 2006, a water industry conference hosted every two years by WaterUK. The event tackles issues of sustainability, and brings together those responsible for water services with funders, regulators, and users. For a copy of Mr Morley�s conference speech telephone 020 7238 6751 or email [email protected].
Notes to editors
1. For the second winter running we have had less rain than expected, in the south east in particular.
2. Companies rely on winter rain to top up reservoirs rivers and groundwater, which is where they obtain our tapwater. In the south east some 70% of the public supply is from groundwater, which generally takes longer to recharge than a reservoir.
3. Drought is a natural phenomenon. Water companies have drought plans, which set out the measures needed to maintain a water supply; the companies are currently drafting new plans for submission to the Secretary of State at the end of March. The plans set out a range of measures that may be necessary to maintain a supply under different drought intensities. Measures include advertising; hose pipe bans, applications for drought permits (to increase abstraction) and drought orders (to restrict non essential uses � watering of parks and golf courses, filling of private swimming pools, for example)
4. The use of stand pipes can only be sanctioned by the Secretary of State under an emergency drought order.
5. Leakage figures for England and Wales are published annually in the Ofwat �Security of supply, leakage and the efficient use of water� reports. Total industry leakage for 1994/95 was reported as 5112 Megalitres/day, 2004/05 was 3608 Megalitres/day. This is a reduction of 1504 Megalitres/day, or nearly 30%. Average household consumption for 2004/05 was 150 Litres/head/day, so 1504000000/150 = 10026666.67, or the average daily consumption of just over 10 million people.
6. At a time of growing pressure on water resources in some parts of the country, water industry stakeholders need to work together in practical ways to promote the efficient use of water in households. The key stakeholders have joined a new ministerially-led group, the Water Saving Group, which will define, monitor, carry out and review projects and workstreams dealing with targets, the evidence base, best practice, education and policy. The first meeting of this group was on 20 October 2005 at which members agreed an action plan.
7. Further information on drought orders and permits can be found on Defra�s website www.defra.gov.uk/environment/water/resources/drought/. |
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Behemoth
Joined: 01 Dec 2004
Posts: 19023
Location: Leeds
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| Posted: Fri Feb 03, 06 10:08 am Post subject: |
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Thursday 2 February 2006 12:33
Met Office (National)
DRY SPELL CONTINUES
England and Wales have had the driest January for almost a decade, and some parts of the UK have had less than a quarter of their average rainfall so far this year, according to Met Office figures released today.
In total England and Wales had 33.2 mm of rain throughout the month - 37% of the long-term average - making it the driest January since 1997 and the 6th driest on record.
Many areas had less than half their average January rainfall:
* The Midlands and East Anglia had only 31% of their average monthly rainfall - 22.4 mm and 15.7 mm respectively
* South East and Central Southern England had 24.8 mm of rain, 32% of the long-term average
* South West England and Southern Wales had 44.5mm, 33% of the long-term average
* Eastern and North East England had 29.4mm, 42% of the long-term average.
2005 in South East and Central Southern England was the 4th driest on record and the driest year since 1973.
Since November 2004, 13 out of the last 15 months have recorded below 1961-1990 average rainfall for South East and Central Southern England, with the worst affected areas being Hampshire, Sussex, Surrey, Middlesex and Kent, which have received around 70% of their normal rainfall.
Notes to editors.
1. In hydrological terms the 'water year' runs from October to September; with September being the time when ground water levels are expected to be at their lowest. The period from October to the end of April is the time when water levels are expected to 'recharge'. A dry winter period is more critical than a dry summer period.
2. More information of the prolonged dry spell can be found here https://www.metoffice.gov.uk/climate/uk/interesting/2004_2005dryspell.html
GNN ref 128113P |
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Penelope Anderson
Joined: 21 Sep 2005
Posts: 326
Location: london
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| Posted: Fri Feb 03, 06 10:19 am Post subject: |
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Well, thanks, folks! I hadn't realised that desalination plants were gas guzzlers, and maybe my reaction was a bit over the top, but I was actually thinking a long way ahead, and seeing a scenario which has this happening year after year.
It's not too difficult to conserve water, but you do have to think about it first, and take a shower every second day for example, use the washing machine only when things need cleaning, pile the plates in the sink and wash them once a day instead of after every meal. Little things like that - it all adds up to a tiny piece of conservation. But everyone has to know, and care enough to act.
In some waterless Greek islands they deliver water in huge plastic balloons dragged behind boats - bears thinking about?
Oh, and well, thank you minister for your fulsome response! |
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Treacodactyl
Downsizer Moderator
Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 25795
Location: Jumping on the bandwagon of opportunism
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Jb
Joined: 08 Jun 2005
Posts: 7761
Location: 91� N
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