Drought my a**e!
 

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[Closed] Drought my a**e!

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Just been for a quick spin round the Ladybower/Derwent/Howden Reservoir system -all full and both spill dams errrr....... spilling!

[img] [/img]


 
Posted : 24/04/2012 8:31 pm
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It's the wrong type of water.


 
Posted : 24/04/2012 8:33 pm
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How's the water table doing?

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-17726989


 
Posted : 24/04/2012 8:34 pm
 Kuco
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The reservoirs by me are still rather low and the only reason Rutland and Pitsford have plenty in is because they are pumping out of the River Nene which is low it self.

Even though it's only been dry once since the hose pipe ban we need nice steady rain that has time to soak into the ground and not just run off.


 
Posted : 24/04/2012 8:36 pm
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How's the water table doing?

You have a table just for water - how posh are you?!?

Cant be too bad round here, all brooks and rivers seem to be flowing well


 
Posted : 24/04/2012 8:41 pm
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[img] [/img]


 
Posted : 24/04/2012 8:48 pm
 rob2
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Derwent etc are all ok but it flipping needs to keep raining down south. It's getting a little seat of the pants stuff so more rain is good 🙂


 
Posted : 24/04/2012 8:56 pm
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Molgrips - if that's all you've got you don't want to let kids make it all muddy!!


 
Posted : 24/04/2012 8:59 pm
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We don't have a drought in the north west....


 
Posted : 24/04/2012 9:50 pm
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Cant be too bad round here, all brooks and rivers seem to be flowing well

that's almost the problem, if rainwater finds it's way into the rivers, it hasn't really helped very much...


 
Posted : 24/04/2012 10:06 pm
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that's almost the problem, if rainwater finds it's way into the rivers, it hasn't really helped very much...

As they flow into reservoirs round here, and they feed the towns and cities, I think they will help the urban dweller - if you mean crops, flowers and lawns you have a good point. Would also be helped if people didn't block pave every inch of spare ground! (that may be a slight exaggeration for effect!!)


 
Posted : 24/04/2012 10:09 pm
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they finally solved the water shortage,, thier going to dilute it down to make it go around


 
Posted : 24/04/2012 10:09 pm
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If you want to combat the drought it will take more than the odd hosepipe ban.

The water table in the SE needs some serious replenishment. No watering all year round, removal of block paving banning of any more. Oh and less people


 
Posted : 24/04/2012 10:12 pm
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Hilariously if you check my local area, all reservoirs are over 50% and one is even overflowing. Seriously bugs me.


 
Posted : 24/04/2012 10:51 pm
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[url= http://openlearn.open.ac.uk/mod/oucontent/view.php?id=398860&section=3 ]Water Table.....[/url]

Like most things in the UK if you let it just get to an acceptable level and then hammer it again then there will be trouble, like when you start on the energy gels or sugary sweets on a ride because your knackered, you are just delaying the inevitable.

There needs to be a lot of changes, perhaps full year hosepipe bans. I bike can be washed with a bucket or pressure washer for a lot less water so can your car. Your lawn doesn't need that much watering and neither do the flower beds.

Some things that happen in the drier parts of Oz (Melbourne, Adelaide, Perth) Using grey water for the garden - washing machine and bath/shower water is used. Our toilet has a hand basin above it so the water filling the cistern has already been used to wash your hands.
No daytime watering of gardens - it just evaporates.

Like most things seeing water in reservoirs doesn't mean drought is over, it's a long term problem that needs solving with long tern thinking


 
Posted : 24/04/2012 11:09 pm
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The hose pipe ban seems to have been the equivalent of doing a rain dance here in the east, I dont think it has stopped raining since!


 
Posted : 24/04/2012 11:24 pm
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Stair rods in the south west today


 
Posted : 25/04/2012 1:25 am
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they finally solved the water shortage, they're going to dilute it down to make it go around

Homoeopathy comes to the rescue again!


 
Posted : 25/04/2012 5:22 am
 Bear
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Thing that annoys me is people think the drought is over because of a couple of wet weeks.
How can that make up for 18 months that have been some of the driest on record?


 
Posted : 25/04/2012 6:27 am
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Water is coming up through my lawn, no shortage in the south at the moment


 
Posted : 25/04/2012 6:31 am
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Bear - Member
Thing that annoys me is people think the drought is over because of a couple of wet weeks.
How can that make up for 18 months that have been some of the driest on record?

Most people have memories like goldfish especially when they want to complain about stuff.......

I do wonder what all these people want to do with their hosepipes.....


 
Posted : 25/04/2012 6:33 am
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Or get one of these
[img] [/img]
[url= http://www.garantia.co.uk/rainwater/rain-butts/rain-butt-lanzarote.html ]Site Link Here[/url]

and you can water away (only after it has rained)


 
Posted : 25/04/2012 6:37 am
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[i]that's almost the problem, if rainwater finds it's way into the rivers, it hasn't really helped very much... [/i]

Plenty of water is taken directly from rivers to provide drinking water.

[i]Or get one of these[/i]

yes please. She can nip down to the shops and get some bottled water for me.


 
Posted : 25/04/2012 6:41 am
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if you mean crops, flowers and lawns you have a good point.

i also mean: trees, upland areas, aquifers, etc.


 
Posted : 25/04/2012 6:44 am
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If you want to combat the drought it will take more than the odd hosepipe ban.
The water table in the SE needs some serious replenishment.

Surely hosepipes take water stored in taps and use it to replenish the local water table (especially round the lawn)?

😉


 
Posted : 25/04/2012 6:52 am
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you are just delaying the inevitable

So what is the alternative with the inevitable?


 
Posted : 25/04/2012 7:05 am
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The SE water table earlier;

[img] [/img]


 
Posted : 25/04/2012 7:06 am
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Or get one of these

Can she cook?


 
Posted : 25/04/2012 7:07 am
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There are now [url= http://www.environment-agency.gov.uk/homeandleisure/floods/31618.aspx ]Flood warnings[/url] in the Southwest. There are currently 3 flood warnings, 19 flood alerts and a hosepipe ban! 🙄


 
Posted : 25/04/2012 7:44 am
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There are now Flood warnings in the Southwest. There are currently 3 flood warnings, 19 flood alerts and a hosepipe ban!

and once this water all washes away the problems caused by prolonged dry weather will still be there.....


 
Posted : 25/04/2012 7:48 am
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and once this water all washes away the problems caused by prolonged dry weather will still be there.....

OK, but where is all the water going to wash away to? Surely it washes into the rivers, lakes and reservoirs which we then extract drinking water from?


 
Posted : 25/04/2012 7:52 am
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I'm sure water companies don't WANT to make you all use less water, since you pay for it by the litre mostly.

There just isn't enough in some places.

Surely it washes into the rivers, lakes and reservoirs which we then extract drinking water from?

How many reservoirs do you see in London? And how many people?

Afaik, most water in the South East comes from the round, not from reservoirs. I think in London it comes from the river, which will be high for a few days following heavy rain then go back.


 
Posted : 25/04/2012 7:56 am
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According to an internet source Thames Water is supplied 75% by rivers and the other 25% from aquifers. The rivers may be flooding now but that is predominantly run-off from the land, as soon as it stops raining the river levels will return to the drought levels because the groundwater/springs that predominantly supply the rivers are still extremely low and when you also consider 25 % of their water comes from boreholes supplied by groundwater then that's a large proportion of their supply that isn't being replenished by these showers.

Derwent system is nice and high which is expected as is the Elan system in Wales meaning Severn Trent have not brought in a hosepipe ban for their customers so no idea what your complaining about in the first post? However the area of Leicester/Nottingham is in a drought (but can be supplied by Derwent/Elan and so ok) as shown by reservoir levels in the area being around 50% and at such low levels the Environment Agency limit abstraction from these sources to protect the wildlife so although you think its half full it is practically empty.


 
Posted : 25/04/2012 7:57 am
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[i]although you think its half full it is practically empty[/i]

[img] [/img]


 
Posted : 25/04/2012 8:04 am
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Over building in the south east is the main culprit.
Wales has got lots of space and water. Build them there.
All around my area nice old houses are being knocked down and toy town flats going up.
10 times the poll tax for the council, they must love it.


 
Posted : 25/04/2012 8:47 am
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[i]Wales has got lots of space and water. Build them there.[/i]

or do what we do with electricity - move it from where it's plentiful (power stations in largely rural areas) to where it's needed (urban areas) via some sort of national grid?

Wouldn't be too difficult using rivers and canals as the mechanism with pipes connecting them?


 
Posted : 25/04/2012 8:50 am
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Strangely enough we have no restrictions in Cambridge ie no hosepipe ban which is odd for one of the driest places in the UK....


 
Posted : 25/04/2012 9:47 am
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1. Reservoirs should be full at this time of year, having recharged over the winter. They're not.
2. Rainfall at this time of year is taken up by growing plants and trees, which limits the amount available for re-charging aquifers and reservoirs.
3. It's been dry for 2 years; a couple of weeks of rain makes chuff all difference.


 
Posted : 25/04/2012 9:58 am
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all the reservoirs round ere are proper full! water is gushing over the top by the ton as i speak.

any of you southern lot wanna pop up with some buckets? got a shed load going spare!


 
Posted : 25/04/2012 10:00 am
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more on it's way Nicko!

what a nice day to send a man up a ladder to have a look at me leaky roof 🙂


 
Posted : 25/04/2012 10:03 am
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I think my clothes soaked up enough water on the cycle to work this morning to solve any water shortages there may be if I was to wring them out in the right place. 😥
Think it's time to replace my waterproof (LOL!!!) trousers.


 
Posted : 25/04/2012 10:23 am
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or do what we do with electricity - move it from where it's plentiful (power stations in largely rural areas) to where it's needed (urban areas) via some sort of national grid?

Why do you think the Elan valley was flooded to make the reservoir? To supply water to Birmingham.


 
Posted : 25/04/2012 10:32 am
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[i]Why do you think the Elan valley was flooded to make the reservoir?[/i]

I'll be honest and say I had no idea that it had been...


 
Posted : 25/04/2012 10:34 am
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Why did you think all that water was in there?


 
Posted : 25/04/2012 10:43 am
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I've got ducks splashing around in what used to be a lawn, no lack of rainfall problem encountered in northern scotchlandshire,


 
Posted : 25/04/2012 11:12 am
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Hoying it down again in Boroughbridge right now. & 2 ducks have just flown past as I'm typing!


 
Posted : 25/04/2012 11:32 am
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The original post was a little tongue in cheek but I couldn't find the appropriate emoticon!

Just crossed the Pennines twice this morning in torrential rain, reservoirs on both sides brimming so am guessing the folks of Manchester and Sheffield will have plenty of water. No need to water their gardens though, they'll have floated off down the road.

😀


 
Posted : 25/04/2012 11:44 am
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[i]Why did you think all that water was in there? [/i]

I didn't know it was (really) - up until about an hour ago I didn't know there was an Elan Valley purposefully full of water or not 🙂


 
Posted : 25/04/2012 11:48 am
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I bike can be washed with a bucket or pressure washer for a lot less water so can your car.

bollox - using a hose with a fine spray nozzle, i can wash my car in no time at all - the last time we had a hosepipe ban oop north and I washed the cars I used buckets and buckets. Just sloshing it somewhere in the vicinity that you need it is useless. In the time it took me to fill one bucket using the hose I could have sprayed the whole car


 
Posted : 25/04/2012 11:57 am
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up until about an hour ago I didn't know there was an Elan Valley purposefully full of water or not

Where did you think the Elan river goes then, mm?


 
Posted : 25/04/2012 12:01 pm
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just been round damflask with the hound. can confirm i am in a shed load more danger of being washed away than parched to death.

crazy rain here atm.


 
Posted : 25/04/2012 12:03 pm
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[i]Where did you think the Elan river goes then, mm? [/i]

Into a Lotus?


 
Posted : 25/04/2012 12:04 pm
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all the reservoirs round ere are proper full!

just been round damflask

Talking about reservoirs is standard fair round Sheffield. It's actually a common ice breaker when approaching women in bars.

Though this may perhaps be why I am single.

Also TN don't invite southerners up to get our water for free. They have all the money remember. Which can you live without for the longest money or water?


 
Posted : 25/04/2012 12:09 pm
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thats a good question. i was planning on selling them the buckets to be honest.

free bucket full of water with every bucket bought.

how much is a decent bucket these days? about £50?

or you can have a 29" carbon fibre one for £50,000... that should get the STW massive onboard.


 
Posted : 25/04/2012 12:12 pm
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i've got some 650b titanium buckets myself perfect for drinking water around the surrey hills.


 
Posted : 25/04/2012 12:17 pm
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thats a good question. i was planning on selling them the buckets to be honest.

Bad plan. For that to work they'd have to come up here, we'd be awash with southerners. 😀

Better idea - we have a lot of large postal bags, reckon we could get a couple of litres in each one - cheaper than buckets so better margin, postal charges might sting a bit.


 
Posted : 25/04/2012 1:00 pm
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Ooh, look! Rain.


 
Posted : 26/04/2012 7:32 am
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river loxley is bursting its banks up here. its a raging torrent and about 40ft wide in places.

looks fricking ace.

anyone know what the rule is on canoeing down such things? never had rapids on my door step before.


 
Posted : 26/04/2012 7:36 am
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Water access is a real pain, it's all about who owns various rights - riparian rights, fishing, landownders of the banks, etc it goes on ad nauseum. If you think it's safe and you are a good enough paddler I'd be inclined to go for it. We really need a Kinder styleee mass trespass on our nations waterways.


 
Posted : 26/04/2012 7:46 am
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that would be ace.

i should probably state that i am an inexperienced paddler, further hampered by a lack of a boaty type vessel.

reckon it would be good today though. uplifts from malin bridge to bradfield.

big old rapids, the water is proper hurtling down. no sign of any fishermen...


 
Posted : 26/04/2012 7:49 am
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[i]further hampered by a lack of a boaty type vessel. [/i]

where's your bulldog spirit?

Improvise with an old bathtub or aunt.


 
Posted : 26/04/2012 7:51 am
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i should probably state that i am an inexperienced paddler, further hampered by a lack of a boaty type vessel.

Get down Lidl and buy a LiLo - about as much fun as a Kayak and a fraction of the price - suggest wearing a helmet of some sort, what with all the trees and other assorted cr4p that will be joining you.

Will pick up a copy of the Star tonight to see the pics as they drag your limp, lifeless body out of a huge stopper. 😀


 
Posted : 26/04/2012 7:54 am
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was considering body surfing (if that's real thing) having watched the dog hop in and immediately be whisked away at about 40mph.

there are some big old rocks in there though, thought a boaty type object might help.

ill have a quick look round and see what bits i can cobble together.


 
Posted : 26/04/2012 8:12 am
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right.

i have the plastic dog shit spade from the garden as a paddle.

boat is either the dogs bed with inflated innertubes wrapped round it (more buoyant)

or the ironing board (bit more surf tastic)

see you on the news!


 
Posted : 26/04/2012 8:16 am
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Good luck sir! :salute:


 
Posted : 26/04/2012 8:24 am
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Isn't Sheffield city centre on proper flood alert. Does that mean that you will be floating past my window Trackniko ?


 
Posted : 26/04/2012 8:27 am
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im up for the challenge. i think my proposed death route ultimately takes me under malin bridge and out through kelham island.

assuming i don't die, and fit under the bridges in town... i'll be in the fat cat supping off-tasting porters.

ciao.


 
Posted : 26/04/2012 8:35 am
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watched the dog hop in and immediately be whisked away at about 40mph.

lordy.

i hope the dog's ok?


 
Posted : 26/04/2012 9:39 am
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yeh he's only 4 months old. i beleive its called exposure training theory or something 😉

nah he loves it. water for him is almost as good as food.


 
Posted : 26/04/2012 9:42 am
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Bit of proof...

[img] [/img]

Loxley in spate.

[img] [/img]

Hound asking to be let back in for another surf session.


 
Posted : 26/04/2012 9:46 am
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Thats not that bad at all !


 
Posted : 26/04/2012 9:50 am
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isnt it? you know what its normally like down there then?


 
Posted : 26/04/2012 9:56 am
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Still raining!!


 
Posted : 26/04/2012 9:27 pm
 Ewan
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Personally I'm all for drought and global warming. I bloody hate rain and mud.


 
Posted : 26/04/2012 9:54 pm
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The water shortages we currently have were predicted years ago and little has been done to approach the issue.... mend a few pipes here and solve some leaks there. Job done.

There has been no joined up thinking by water companies, councils, government and other stakeholders to improve the current infrastructure for many many years.

In fact a spokesperson on the news tonight was complaining that some of the water pipes had been installed 100 years ago and so it wasn't his companies fault that they were leaking!!!


 
Posted : 26/04/2012 10:12 pm
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Apparantly, we've a 27 inch rainfall deficit over the last two years.
This month has seen a fall of two inches.

According to the nice man on Radio 4 it would need to rain from now to December, without let up, to avert another drought.

No, I don't get it either. 😐


 
Posted : 26/04/2012 10:17 pm
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those figures above would surely suggest that this is a far bigger problem than they are letting us know.

seems if we genuinely did need rain for 12 months then some folks definitely should have done something about it sooner.

all very strange. maybe inflated stats to explain away the pipe ban?


 
Posted : 27/04/2012 6:59 am
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I don't know why some people appear to insist that a lot of rain over a short period has exactly the same effect as the same amount of rain over a prolonged period.


 
Posted : 27/04/2012 7:06 am
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"No, I don't get it either."

Read above, its all to do with the water table and how it is way too low. All this rain is just running off in to the rivers and oceans and doesnt soak in to the ground. It takes time to fill up the water table.

This isnt all helped by the fact we are putting more and more hard surfaces down that prevent water soaking in to the ground.


 
Posted : 27/04/2012 7:07 am
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scrub that. doesn't matter.


 
Posted : 27/04/2012 7:18 am
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