Institution of Civil Engineers publish State of the Nation Water Report

Civil engineers are by nature a conservative bunch but in the ICE State of the Nation Water Report published this week they pull no punches. They describe a situation not unlike that in Ireland where the severity and urgency of the nation’s water problems are still not properly understood. They rate the current water security situation in the UK as level 4 on a 1-10 scale, which would be slightly better than Ireland which in some regions is higher. The report offers many possible solutions including the development of new water storage facilities, the removal of regulatory barriers that discourage water sharing between neighbouring companies and collaborative investment in new infrastructure. Among the issues that come as no surprise to us here in Ireland is the recommendation for the phased introduction of phased of universal metering, but with social tariffs to protect the poorest in society.

The grim fact is that if positive action is not taken quickly then water security in the UK could reach level 8 or 9 by 2025. Download a copy of the report at www.ice.org.uk/sonwater2012.

Water Restrictions Could Spread to Ireland

Shower timers can be tradtional egg timer
design or digital alarm systems

I am feeling rather depressed at not being issued with a waterproof four- minute egg timer for use in my shower as a simple tool to conserve water.  These are being issued throughout south-east England in an attempt to conserve supplies. South East and Anglia Water areas are especially at risk as are the midlands, including Birmingham.  However, with hosepipe bans inevitable, it appears that we are heading for a very dry year…as dry as 1975 which I remember very well.  It was the first and only time I have seen lawns and agricultural grassland simply wither and die.  Ireland may also be facing a similar situation this summer and as supplies are always at a critical level in the East, especially in the Greater Dublin area, it is perhaps time to seriously consider conservation measures and issuing waterproof egg timers here as well.