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MonkeyMatt
Original Poster
4,740 posts
76 months
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Why are we not building any reservoirs in this country? The population is increasing, water usage is increasing and rainfall has become more erratic (allegedly). I can’t find and info on when the last major reservoir was constructed but I’m guessing it was some time ago.
I know we have issues with the engineering behind it and the fact that the environment is a big concern to people these days but surely we have the tech to be able to build these structures and be able to allow ways for fish to migrate and breed etc.
I know such a construction project wouldn’t be cheap but then again running low on water must also be costing the economy a fortune with restricted water usage. We need more reservoirs and we need then now!
Currently the river by me has burst its banks the fields are flooded and everywhere is waterlogged! Drought my arse!
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doogz
18,677 posts
56 months
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We don't really have the same issues you seem to be having down south, but i stay a couple of hundred metres away from a disused reservoir.
The waterworks are all still there, the last set, which are maintained on a semi-regular basis, so that they could be brought back into work at relatively short notice if required, and the previous works, which are old rusty bits of machinery in holes in the ground, with creepy underground passages and pits and whatnot. Good for a climb about and a bit of exploring.
So, dunno when they last built any, but we seem to have spare capacity, should we require it.
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wemorgan
355 posts
47 months
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AKAIK any investment has to be approved by the regulator. So the hands of the water companies are tied on this issue.
Simply, any increase in investment has to yield a dividend return so water prices would therefore increase.
Turkeys don't vote for Christmas
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Dusty964
5,426 posts
59 months
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Desalination plants are the answer surely. The uk is surrounded by a fairly reliable source of water.
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MonkeyMatt
Original Poster
4,740 posts
76 months
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Dusty964 said: Desalination plants are the answer surely. The uk is surrounded by a fairly reliable source of water. I thoughthey were hugely expensive! Surley storing rainwater is the answer! millions of gallons must just flow into the sea everyday
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Isaac Hunt
6,773 posts
80 months
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The river in our village is almost at bursting point. We are only about 20 miles from the sea.
How much useful water goes into the sea each day? Surely we should be pumping water from close to the river mouth into reservoirs.
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Piersman2
3,133 posts
68 months
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MonkeyMatt
Original Poster
4,740 posts
76 months
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Im thinking of lots of small scale reservoirs to supply local towns would be the answer! and I too have often wondered why we dont pump river water from close to the sea?
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The Black Flash
4,261 posts
67 months
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EURef has just posted an interesting article on this: EURef said: One of those planned was the Abingdon reservoir, and the fate of that has already been recorded. Another had been announced in September 2003 – the Clay Hill reservoir near Canterbury in Kent, to be built at a cost of £100m. And it was to be joined by a huge reservoir at Broad Oak, near Folkestone. Both, however, have been deferred, one to 2020 and the other to 2023.
Yet another was Havant Thicket, a £36m project between Havant and Rowlands Castle, near Portsmouth. But, in November 2011, it was announced that this was to be deferred for 25 years, after the government told Portsmouth Water to go back to the drawing board in devising its Water Resources Management Plan...
...Thus, none of the five reservoirs deemed essential in 2004 – all in the south of England – have seen the light of day. http://www.eureferendum.com/blogview.aspx?blogno=8...I think the answer is, "because politicians can't plan past the end of their noses"
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mrmr96
11,949 posts
73 months
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MonkeyMatt said: Dusty964 said: Desalination plants are the answer surely. The uk is surrounded by a fairly reliable source of water. I thoughthey were hugely expensive! http://www.theregister.co.uk/2012/05/02/water_vs_energy_analysis/
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Keyser Soze
10,922 posts
60 months
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I heard on the Radio earlier that a number of resevoirs were actually sold off to provide land for housing? How the f  k can they do this?
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Gargamel
5,325 posts
130 months
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I am sure the answer must be usage.
Installation of locally collected grey water systems for toilets and washing machines must be technically possible.
What would it really take?
Certainly should be a legal requirement in new builds.
Additionally we hear a lot about water companies taking from ground water, why don 't they have the ability to top up reserved from river water ? Either into the reservoir system, or via bore holes into ground water system for lat use.
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rhinochopig
16,050 posts
67 months
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doogz said: We don't really have the same issues you seem to be having down south, but i stay a couple of hundred metres away from a disused reservoir.
The waterworks are all still there, the last set, which are maintained on a semi-regular basis, so that they could be brought back into work at relatively short notice if required, and the previous works, which are old rusty bits of machinery in holes in the ground, with creepy underground passages and pits and whatnot. Good for a climb about and a bit of exploring.
So, dunno when they last built any, but we seem to have spare capacity, should we require it. At least we know where to start the search if you inexplicably stop posting.
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Mattt
14,789 posts
87 months
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mrmr96 said: MonkeyMatt said: Dusty964 said: Desalination plants are the answer surely. The uk is surrounded by a fairly reliable source of water. I thoughthey were hugely expensive! http://www.theregister.co.uk/2012/05/02/water_vs_energy_analysis/ Well that's all well and good, but building 6 bazillion desalination plants (RO isn't exactly state of the art either as mentioned), doesn't mean you can ring up EDF and get yourself on a consumer tariff. Desal water also tastes like crap - I prefer 'water' as opposed to 'dihydrogen monoxide'. Build Nuclear, build them fast, then you can have all the desal you want.
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Mattt
14,789 posts
87 months
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The UK could also consider polishing their TSE ready for consumption...
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doogz
18,677 posts
56 months
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rhinochopig said: At least we know where to start the search if you inexplicably stop posting. Check the septic tank too. If i ever have to 'disappear' someone, that's where they're going.
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MOTORVATOR
3,330 posts
116 months
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Just building reservoirs doesn't solve the problem. The reservoirs need something to feed them.
As it is in the South near to 80% of water is taken from groundwater not surface water run off.
Known as aquifers it is quite a sensible place to source from as the geology cleans up the supply saving in treatment costs.
If you take from the rivers then you take away from the source that replenishes these aquifiers so all you have achieved is to store the same water but just spent a load of money to have it visible and evaporating.
Development also affects the natural replenishment of aquifers as the hard surfacing causes the runoff to go to straight to river rather than percolating through, hence the need for sustainable urban drainage systems such as porous paving that allows it continue as if it were still a field and more directly soakaway drainage that doesn't just throw your roof water straight into a network of pipes and out to sea.
So whilst it doesn't seem right, what we actually need to do is stop the water getting to the rivers in the first place.
Desalination is stupidly expensive compared to our normal sources so it needs to be a last option as we already have a cheap system quite capable of dealing with our demands, we just need to manage it a bit better, and that onus sits with the Environment Agency not the water authorities.
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Watchman
1,955 posts
114 months
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There are enough reservoirs and water supplies to service way more people than there are in this country at the moment but because they all want to live in the same corner, they're going to go thirsty. What govts need to do is to even-out the population a bit. Reduce the concentration in the South East and suddenly house prices are more reasonable, roads aren't clogged-up, water supplies become adequate, schools aren't over-subscribed, hospitals aren't overcrowded, etc etc etc.
Look at a map of the whole of the UK and draw in blue where all the motorways are. There are some obvious "black holes" where no decent road infrastructure exists. Build motorways to make all corners of the UK relatively accessible and businesses will move there, followed by people. Then it all becomes that much easier to manage.
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lazystudent
1,511 posts
30 months
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There is only drought in the South East. Land in the South East is f king expensive. Can you imagine how much it would cost to buy up however much land in the South East and dig a great big hole in it?
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valiant
777 posts
29 months
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lazystudent said: There is only drought in the South East. Land in the South East is f king expensive. Can you imagine how much it would cost to buy up however much land in the South East and dig a great big hole in it? Maybe if Thames water decided not to sell off 5 reservoirs over the last few years we may not be in such a situation we are in now. It's not as if the population of London and surrounding areas is going to increase over the coming years. 
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