Is it ok to run the tap while you clean your teeth now?
2007-01-11 05:43:01 · 17 answers · asked by Anonymous in Science & Mathematics ➔ Engineering
Thames Water still has a hosepipe ban, so I have to put on my wellies and souwester and water the garden with a can.
I went through East Kent on the train yesterday. A lot of the fields were flooded and the reservoirs around Canterbury were full. They are probably waiting for the water to come in through OFWAT's windows.
2007-01-11 05:50:34 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
Basically, and to put it very simply, every year there is a water shortage. There is a water balance whereby in temperate climates (rainfall throughout the year but less in summer months) there is more rainfall in winter and less evapotranspiration and there is a surplus resulting in full reservoirs, flooding etc., a surplus of water. During the summer we get less rainfall and more evapotranspiration so the water stored from winter gradually gets used up by plants, animals and humans and occasionally leads to a defecit in summer when the hosepipe bans are implemented.
In the past we have managed to maintain this balance to a certain extent, however, as more and more groundwater is being extracted for human use (farming, drinking, waterskiing!) and global warming reduces total annual rainfall and increases evapotranspiration less water is available for human use and yet our use of water is still increasing. Overall this means that there will from now on ALWAYS be a deficit in the summer as we progress further towards a drier climate with hotter summers and more unbalanced weather in general.
My advice is use as little as possible all year round. It's like dieting, no point in doing it monday to friday and bingeing on a weekend now is it?!
2007-01-11 14:21:23 · answer #2 · answered by Pole Kitten 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
The bl00dy water companies would like us to think there is. But looking at my garden (underwater) and hearing that reservoirs are now over 90% full AND that the aquifers are healthier now than they have been for three years AND that rainfall in the last four months has been 150% of normal winter rainfall, I beg to disagree with them.
Hosepipe ban extension? Just let those fat privatised cats try!
2007-01-11 13:52:22 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Total lack of investment by the water companies before they were privatised by the conservative party in the early 80's.
The same reason that the railways are in a state of disrepair etc.
2007-01-11 18:03:19 · answer #4 · answered by Andy S 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
It's raining cats and dogs here but they are saying that this summer situation gonna be bad. Still got hose pipe ban!!
I use a mouthful of water to rinse my teeth but don't tell the authorities!
If there wasn't so much p*ssing out of all the water mains there'd be enough water out there to swim in!!
2007-01-11 13:54:42 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
The only shortages in UK water are in the supply companies who cannot make enough profit from fleecing the population.
2007-01-11 13:51:00 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
I dont think there still is a water shortage after all the rain we have been having :p..xx
2007-01-11 13:47:24 · answer #7 · answered by madblonde91 1 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Don't know about all areas of UK, but if you are needing some just give me a call, can send you millions of gallons and still have too much
2007-01-11 13:47:52 · answer #8 · answered by BobC 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
i think their is a hosepipe ban in london.but you should still save water so knock the tap off when cleaning your teeth.
2007-01-11 13:51:10 · answer #9 · answered by Dooby 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
It is the underground reserves that are still empty, so water is still in short supply in the south of the country.
2007-01-11 13:47:12 · answer #10 · answered by richard_beckham2001 7 · 0⤊ 2⤋