We've got a hosepipe ban coming!

[RichardCranium]

No, I haven't resurrected an old thread.

When running the tap to fill the kettle this morning, the chlorine pong was really strong again. "Another burst over the weekend, then" says Mrs RC, knowingly. "We'll have a hosepipe ban soon, ha, ha, ha!"



Last summer, up here in the sunny North West of England (where it's raining), we had a hosepipe ban while the rest of you lot were being washed away by the floods.

This year, they're getting it in early. Daily Wail link.

While some parts of the North are battling fresh snowfalls there are growing fears of a hosepipe ban in the months to come.

Despite the country grinding to a standstill under several inches of snow, some reservoirs' water levels are lower than usual for this time of the year. Fears of a water shortage are growing after December was officially the coldest for 100 years and 2010 the driest since in some parts of the UK since 1981.

Burst water pipes, which froze in -10C temperatures, have added to the problem with United Utilities losing 460 million litres of water a day through leaks.

But water firm bosses says this is in line with its targets and millions has been spent on new pipes.

After last year's hosepipe ban there are concerns of a repeat in 2011 with reservoirs much lower than 12 months ago.

Distant Dream: Already United Utilities, which supplies the North West, has warned of a hosepipe ban in the region

United Utilities imposed a hosepipe ban last July because water levels in reservoirs had fallen to around half.

Local reservoir levels as at 26 December 2010:

  			Actual stock 	Normal year 	Last year
Regional total 		82.2% 		91.2%  		92.7% 
North & West Cumbria 	98.8% 		99.0% 		99.9%
Haweswater & Thirlmere 	67.7% 		88.0% 		96.3%
Pennine sources 	85% 		92.0% 		90.9%
Dee & Vyrnwy reservoirs	88% 		92.0% 		91.9%

[DimPrawn]

It's all them 4x4 drivers 'innit.

I don't know why the government doesn't tax everyone off the roads so we can have some water for our taps.

[thunderlizard]

We've got a hornpipe fan coming!

...so we've put some pictures of ships in the guest bedroom, and bought a couple of sea shanty albums for him to listen to.


tl

[AtW]

Local reservoir levels as at 26 December 2010:

All the water was in form of snow around Heathrow.

HTH

[Mich the Tester]

All the water was in form of snow around Heathrow.

HTH

Next time, perhaps some feckless chavs could be employed to pick it up and carry it to the lake district and drop it in the reservoirs for the benefit of northern residents.

[DimPrawn]

Next time, perhaps some feckless chavs could be employed to pick it up and carry it to the lake district and drop it in the reservoirs for the benefit of northern residents.

Indeed, have you seen the lake district?

It's like a parched desert, no greenery, huge water sucking population. And of course nowhere to store water either.

Disaster waiting to happen that is.