The News Review:

- Water, water everywhere and not a drop to spare
- Can I have a borehole in my garden?
- Water restrictions helping island

Water, water everywhere and not a drop to spare
Times Online – Jun 20, 2006
The possibility of an application for a drought order affecting the Thames Valley area, even though rainfall has been higher there, cannot be ruled out; nor, it seems, can the possibility of a further application by Thames Water for an emergency drought order. A water company normally has a duty under the Water Industry Act 1991 to provide a constant supply sufficient for domestic purposes such as drinking, washing, cooking, central heating and sanitation. However, if there is shortage because of exceptionally low rainfall, the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs can make a drought order under the Water Resources Act 1991. He or she can also make an emergency drought order if the deficiency is likely to impair the economic or social wellbeing of the population. Under an order, customers may be forbidden to use sprinklers or hosepipes to clean windows or to water gardens (apart from market gardens), lawns, verges, allotments, parks or sports or recreation grounds, whether publicly or privately owned. Operating mechanical car washes is forbidden, as is washing cars, boats, trains or aircraft for any reason apart from for safety or hygiene, and operating automatically flushing toilets when buildings are unoccupied. You can water plants with a watering can, fill a privately owned swimming pool as long as it is used for medical treatment, have a shower or bath, and clean car windscreens or lights for reasons of safety…
If you contravene the order you may be liable to a fine of up to £5,000 in a magistrates’ court or an unlimited fine in the Crown Court. An emergency drought order allows the use of water to be restricted in any way deemed necessary. This could mean that domestic water supplies are shut off and standpipes set up in streets; supplies to homes and businesses could be cut off at certain times of the day. An emergency order is valid for three months but can be extended for a further two months and cannot last more than five months. A water company will not reduce its rates but must make payments (or give credits) to customers if their water supply is interrupted or cut off by a drought order. Payments for each day (or part day) during which a supply is interrupted or cut off would be £10 for households and £50 for businesses, although no customer would receive more than he or she was billed for water charges in the previous year. However, compensation is not payable if a company has taken reasonable steps to avoid interruptions of supply.

Can I have a borehole in my garden?
BBC News – Jun 20, 2006
“It is also expensive, the average borehole costs 10,000. That’s a lot of money when there is no guarantee that you will get a regular water supply. Every licence application is assessed for its potential impact on the environment and to ensure water resources are safeguarded…
For an ordinary garden, watering a small private garden or looking after special plants is fair enough. But watering acres of bedding to keep a large private garden pretty is wasteful. Isobel, Salisbury, UKMy cricket club has had a private water supply for a very long time. We obviously use a lot of water on the playing surface throughout the summer. As it is part of a National Trust property which recieves lots of visitors its always “entertaining” explaining that “yes we can use as much water as we like even in the middle of a drought”. Rob Cornelius, Somerset UKThe two main hospitals in Nottingham (City Hospital & QMC) both have their own boreholes. Apparently it saves them 500,000 a year compared to the cost of being on the mains supply.

Water restrictions helping island
BBC News – Jun 20, 2006
About 1m gallons has been saved in two months following fears of a shortage. The tight controls on water usage were put in place after four years of below-average rainfall. The States member responsible for the water supply, Lin Maurice, said it was thanks to the community taking the message on board. Water buttsMs Maurice said: “We’ve got sufficient to last the rest of the year – if we don’t waste any. “With the hose-pipe ban and the sale of water butts, everybody has collected rainwater and people are not abusing the water situation. “They are really helping, and we are really pleased about that. The stringent water restrictions ban islanders from a number of activities, including filling swimming pools and using hoses or sprinklers.