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mark occomore · Joined: 07 Dec 2006 Posts: 9955 Location: UK

Seems to the drought warning is getting worse. Even though we have had snow it's still not enough water. Even the water companies have been making improvements which are still not enough. It could end up being as worse as the drought of 1976.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-17102615

ruddlescat · Joined: 16 Sep 2010 Posts: 18010 Location: Near Chester

Here being so close to good old wet Wales we don't have a problem Very Happy

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iwarburton · Joined: 08 Dec 2006 Posts: 2133 Location: Northumberland

Similarly, we benefit from having Kielder Reservoir nearby.

Ian.

R2Icon · Joined: 10 Sep 2009 Posts: 1444

I don’t understand why we don’t have a national grid of water pipes. We’re supposed to be one of the most advanced countries on the planet. Maybe that’s what the HS2 is really for – people in Kent can pop up to the North West with a bucket in the morning and can be back home for tea time:- it’s the perfect solution!

There’s more than enough water for all of us, and some- we just have to find an easy way to move it around… let me think….. how do they do it with oil? Oh yes! They use pipelines ……It’s not Rocket Science. Spend the money on something useful!!!

RockitRon · Joined: 07 Dec 2006 Posts: 7646

That's far too sensible a suggestion, Rach.

It was suggested nearly forty years ago after the summer drought of 1976.

Politicians and water companies just don't work like that.

R2Icon · Joined: 10 Sep 2009 Posts: 1444

I’ve been thinking about the lack of rain in the South East. The cause of the drought and the solution to the drought are both London. By London I mean everything within the M25. You see, most of our rain comes from the South West but London is very warm – when air is warm it’s capable of holding much more water than cold air, so the rain clouds make their merry way across the colder parts of the country from the West – raining on everyone but when the they get to London- they suddenly warm up because of all the heat from the stuff going on, on the ground- human stuff, central heating, trains, planes cars, bars, industry- all crammed into that little space – all human activity creates heat and all of that heat ends up , going up- thus the clouds over London get warm, they can then hold much more water- so it stops raining. Result: The South East gets no rain because the clouds stay warm until they get over the North Sea. It does snow in the south east from time to time and for the very same reason :- most of our really cold weather comes from the east , so when the warm clouds over London hit the cold air from the east – bingo the clouds cool down rapidly and it snows in Kent.
So how do we make it rain in the South East? It’s simples! Just switch everything off in London for a few days- I mean everything (that may happen soon anyway with an imminent EMP) all the heat will dissipate and it will rain in the South East. Bingo!

The drought in the South-East is a macro example of Global Warming Induced Climate Change. Sometimes I think I’m wasted here in this office.

John W · Joined: 07 Dec 2006 Posts: 3367 Location: Warwickshire, UK

That was a typical London, London, London..... it's the only place in the world Razz

We have 4 million people crammed into the West Midlands, you know! or maybe you didn't Rolling Eyes

That's 32 million farts a day!
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R2Icon · Joined: 10 Sep 2009 Posts: 1444

R2Icon · Joined: 10 Sep 2009 Posts: 1444

The reason why it still rains in the West Midlands, John, even though, as you correctly say, there is condensed human activity there, the Pennines act as a barrier to passing cloud causing it to become more dense: the increase in cloud density is sufficient to overcome the enhanced water retention properties of the West Midlands warmed air – so it rains- it’s a vicious circle: the rain then rapidity cools-down the ground, and the rising warm air, the clouds cool down, making it rain even more- this is why you get really heavy downpours in the West Midlands. The South East does not benefit from a substantial natural barrier to passing cloud so it just gets warm over London and carries on along its merry way. No rain.

We exist together in a delicate balance of nature, as people we need to understand that balance and preserve it, because only in that balance can we continue to exist.

RockitRon · Joined: 07 Dec 2006 Posts: 7646

Actually, the West Midlands doesn't get much more rainfall, overall, than the South East - it only feels grey, damp and miserable there all the time ( Laughing

) http://www.metoffice.gov.uk/climate/uk/averages/ukmapavge.html

However, I believe that it does get most of its domestic water supply from wet Wales, and so has been less affected by dry weather. The sudden downpours and flooding which affect Shropshire and the Severn Valley from time to time, are usually wasted, cos most of it ends up in peoples' houses and gardens, or just gets washed out to sea, rather than into reservoirs.

The trouble with the south east is too many people living there - one third of the population of the UK living in one-sixth of the space and getting less than one-eighth the rainfall, and a long distance from storage points. Instead of building yet more housing down there perhaps they need to take the lead of the BBC and encourage more businesses and their workforces to move northwestwards.

ruddlescat · Joined: 16 Sep 2010 Posts: 18010 Location: Near Chester

Absolutely Ron - perhaps we could swap some of our water for some of their highly paid South East based jobs - that seems fair to me Smile

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mark occomore · Joined: 07 Dec 2006 Posts: 9955 Location: UK

It seems to be coming true in the South East with Hose Pipe bans introduced over the next few days.

SantaFefan · Posted: Mon Mar 12, 2012 7:23 pm Post subject:

Yes, you wouldn't think those horses could play the pipes would you? Laughing

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ruddlescat · Joined: 16 Sep 2010 Posts: 18010 Location: Near Chester

You're used to the horses that run at Great Yarmouth Santa

If you go up to Scotland you'll find that before the big race they traditionally give a quick rendition on the bagpipes of 'Ayr On A G String' Laughing

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littlepieces · Joined: 10 Jan 2010 Posts: 1098 Location: Lowestoft

Sorry but what's rain? asks the bloke from the east coast
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ruddlescat · Joined: 16 Sep 2010 Posts: 18010 Location: Near Chester

Oh dear - the previous reference to 'horse pipes' seems to have suddenly disappeared

Perhaps they're all too preoccupied with Cheltenham this week Laughing

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graham b · Joined: 23 Sep 2010 Posts: 211 Location: Wakefield

I trust that the hosepipe ban will be enforced at all the Olympic Venues - all that lovely yellow grass and mucky official cars. What an advert for London.

Helen May · Joined: 10 Dec 2006 Posts: 19334 Location: Cheshire

I think the Olympics are an exception Mark, if I heard or read correctly yesterday. It's wrong IMHO, as are the bl***y Olympics. Grrh Evil or Very Mad

H
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ruddlescat · Joined: 16 Sep 2010 Posts: 18010 Location: Near Chester

I agree Helen - the Olympics will benefit only London and the South East and even then only marginally and the rest of the country will end up footing the bill through our taxes Evil or Very Mad

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mark occomore · Joined: 07 Dec 2006 Posts: 9955 Location: UK

Hose pipe ban in the South kicks in today. These water companies want you too shop your neighbors or have a quite word with them. The Olympic venue will be exempt.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-17615364

R2Icon · Joined: 10 Sep 2009 Posts: 1444

ruddlescat · Joined: 16 Sep 2010 Posts: 18010 Location: Near Chester

They might need a hose to cool down all the overexcited crowds assembled in the centre of London and not remotely near any recognised beach just to watch the beach volleyball competition Laughing

But actually a wet T Shirt competition would probably be a lot more entertaining than most of the other events on offer Shocked

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Toggy · Joined: 18 Aug 2008 Posts: 1239

Cambridge Water has not imposed the hosepipe ban, this is great news for me as I'm a customer of theirs. Very Happy

Not sure how long we will remain exempt for though.

FleetingEileenM · Joined: 30 Mar 2010 Posts: 5767 Location: Hampshire

We have just received our "drought-buster", a length of hose with a pump and one-way valve which will run bath water out of the window into a waiting dustbin on the patio.

It will beat carrying buckets of grey water downstairs and into the garden (no mistakes yet but I dread a massive spillage all over the carpet!).

I'm also doing washing-up by hand (a job I perversely quite enjoy Rolling Eyes

), and emptying the bowl into the bin. It's half full already and it's only 11.30am.

This evening I'll be using it on the garden as the four water butts are getting low. However, having seen the forecast, they may well fill up on Bank Holiday Monday! Smile

ruddlescat · Joined: 16 Sep 2010 Posts: 18010 Location: Near Chester

I always wash up by hand Eileen

I have a dishwasher but I find that either I'm running it with hardly anything in it or if I wait for a full load to gather I run out of cups or knives and forks

I think the old method is still the best although of course we don't have a hosepipe ban here and getting our water from Wales probably never will Very Happy

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FleetingEileenM · Joined: 30 Mar 2010 Posts: 5767 Location: Hampshire

Ruddles, I always did most of my bird-watching while washing up so when we first bought a dishwasher (OH's idea although I've never understood why as he never did the washing up!), I didn't get to see as many birds.

Apparently less water is used in a full dishwasher than doing several washes by hand all day, but then the water isn't available for re-use.

Helen May · Joined: 10 Dec 2006 Posts: 19334 Location: Cheshire

Reading your posts Eileen reminded me of my great aunt writing to her sister (my grandmother, who would often read the letters aloud) when I was a child and telling her that she was saving the dishwater to water the runner beans in her cornish garden circa 1960. She was a character and her letters were often amusing. Whenever I hear of using dishwater for plants she always comes to mind!

H
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88 - 91 FM this is Radio 2 from the BBC!

I said it live on air in the studio with Jeremy Vine on 10/3/2005

FleetingEileenM · Joined: 30 Mar 2010 Posts: 5767 Location: Hampshire

Glad to have revived pleasant memories for you Helen Smile

Helen May · Joined: 10 Dec 2006 Posts: 19334 Location: Cheshire

FleetingEileenM · Joined: 30 Mar 2010 Posts: 5767 Location: Hampshire

The drought-buster is so simple and is working well. It's attached to a length of hosepipe which takes the grey water down to an old dustbin via the open bathroom window.

As we can't keep it in position permanently (which would mean having the window ajar) we have a length of string tied onto the handle inside the window and the other end on the gadget on the patio.

Brilliant! Except ... there is a possible problem. When we haul on the string to bring the gadget up, it travels past a nesting box in which a pair of great tits have been showing an interest.

I've decided that the box must be moved sideways along the house wall before the birds start nest-building, which must be imminent. They may be upset by the move and not use it this year, but it would be awful to disturb them once they have settled and started laying.

Oh well ... off to sort out the ladder, masonry drill etc!

SantaFefan · Posted: Wed Apr 11, 2012 2:01 pm Post subject:

Mrs SFF recently bought a "HoseLock" water butt pump... I was sceptical to start with and it sat in the box for weeks but after having tried it, I'm impressed!
It sits in the water butt and provides a reasonable jet of water when required...
I had to smile as they include lots of little notices which read something like " I'm watering my garden using a HoseLock water butt pump and rainwater only" for sticking through suspicious neighbour's letterboxes! Laughing

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Johnnie Walker read out my message on Pirate Radio! Very Happy

13/8/07
I have heard how radio should be.

nod · Joined: 24 Dec 2006 Posts: 3558