waterrestricteduse

It seems clear that we will see a whole new set of rules and regulations connected to water supply and use in the years ahead. The recent call for water meters to be fitted to every home in the UK is just one of many. Clearly, there is an increased demand for water. However, the restrictions placed on water use in the UK is misguided, counter-productive, and often lacking sense.

Obviously we should not waste water, but let us celebrate our success as a somewhat buoyant economy and a progressive society by allowing ourselves to use 'lots' of water. I say that, knowledgeable of the fact that we can get cola to all corners of the world, but not drinking water. I can see nothing wrong in using a large showerhead or washing a car with a hose. We have progressed, we have used technology, and we have an ordered supply of drinking water together with a wonderfully-designed sewerage system. We are the envy of countries all around the world. Being an island we actually have an unending supply. All that curtails us from actually getting to the point of using it thoughtlessly is our inability to desalinate water inexpensively.

The flushing of toilets is by far our largest use of domestic water. Each of us uses over 50 litres a day doing so. However, the application of a low-flush toilet such as 6-litre and even 3-litre can be counter-productive. The reason is that users often flush twice, and therefore use 12 litres when 9 litres would probably have sufficed.

Despite the very recent lack of rainfall in the South East, the fact is that annual UK rainfall has not undergone a statistically significant change since records began in 1766. What has changed is the perception of our climate and weather. Indeed, we seem to have reached the boundaries of reason, emotion and absurdity where climate change is concerned. The ten years since 2000 has seen more rainfall in England & Wales than any other 10-year period since modern records began in 1914.

We were told that due to global warming England and Wales would see hotter, drier summers and wetter winters. Well actually that has not been the case at all. In fact, since the modern era of global warming, summers have become wetter while winters have become drier. There is a divergence between computer-modelled belief in what climate change may bring and reality. We are now getting summer rainfall that we haven’t had since the late 1950s. Yet according to global warming theory, we should be drier. June, July and August rainfall has been especially ‘worse’ in the past ten years, while the year 2000 saw the highest annual rainfall since 1872.

So we see then that any water shortages are nothing to do with the weather or climate - despite what some television journalists or green groups may claim through ignorance. Indeed, we are actually receiving more rainfall than we were previously. The ‘shortages’, when they do occur, are instead related to an increased population, a modern lifestyle of water usage, and an inability to cope with water demand due to lack of investment in the infrastructure.

We have been told by the Environmental Agency that rainfall in the South East is 200mm lower than the national average. In fact, the last 10 years data shows it’s 120mm not 200mm and these figures are skewed anyway by a wet South West and North West. The South East has actually had more annual rainfall than central England. The Environmental Agency have opposed the construction of a large reservoir at Abingdon, instead believing that curtailing domestic water use is a more viable option.

We must use water wisely; otherwise we deprive those below us (topographically speaking). However, we should ensure that there is a plentiful supply in the first place. We should be using as much as we thoughtfully require and need. There is a massive increase in demand for water - through a higher population. Perhaps we might look at re-nationalising the water supply companies. Only then might a national plan to put every home on a water meter be more palatable.

Not too long ago we were a nation with contaminated and limited water supplies. Let's not go any way back towards that, not even an inch. Let us instead remind ourselves that we are an island, and one of the wettest countries in Europe. Depriving ourselves to any degree is a backward step. A mark of our economic success and advancement should be energy and water when and where we want it, to suit our requirement - used within an ecologically acceptable framework.

The facts are that our rainfall has not decreased, and so-called climate change has had no impact on rainfall either regionally or nationally - with more rain in the past ten years than any other recorded period. Our demand for water, however, is up - and so it should be. Although water use must be managed, we remain one of the wealthiest countries in the world - wealthy enough to have a generous water supply.