Comment posted Scotland’s water, Scottish Water, climate change and the south east by Robert Wakeham.
It’s already possible to transfer water from the giant Kielder reservoir near the Scottish border from Northumberland down through Durham to South Yorkshire – a series of tunnels, pipelines and pumping stations connecting formerly separate water networks down the east side of the Pennines to feed a predicted rise in demand – notably the steel industry – that didn’t materialise.
Recent comments by Robert Wakeham
- Minutes of today’s meeting of ‘Concerned Councillors’ Group
Perhaps Argyll should be reclassified from a local authority area to a semi-wilderness zone not suited to self-government, of a similar standing to the Northwest Territories in Canada; if that doesn’t work, then how about the Tribal Areas of Pakistan’s Northwest Frontier? – anarchic groups that continually disintegrate and morph into new allegiances, beyond rational control and inviting attack by pilotless rocket-firing drones controlled from outside the country’s borders. Attacks noisily condemned by a dis-functional central government, but secretly welcomed. - CalMac geared up to start Campbeltown-Ardrossan ferry service on Thursday night
If indeed Calmac were ‘thrown a curve ball’ by the Scottish government then it doesn’t bode well for the future, if indeed the government is into cynical manipulation of public finances to enhance their popularity.
The trouble is, this would fit with the apparent cynical manipulation, by this government, of Argyll & Bute Council politics – and if this really is all in character then it reinforces my cynicism about politicians in general.
You can find some decent ones, in most parties, if you try – but anyone listening to Alex Salmond jousting with James Naughtie on BBC R4 ‘Today’, this morning, will have heard him claim that Denis Healey (whom I respected for his ability in government) has said that the Treasury deliberately underplayed the value of Scottish oil in years gone by to make independence seem less attractive.
A plague on the lot of them. - Walsh to lead all but Lib Dems, Conservatives and George Freeman
I’m just wondering if this is a wild goose chase – barking up the wrong tree, so to speak – and it might be a creature of a different political colour altogether? - Walsh to lead all but Lib Dems, Conservatives and George Freeman
Talking of Conservatives, and bearing in mind the ornithological wonders of this part of the world, has anyone yet spotted a swivel-eyed loon? – or is it an imaginary creature? - First Minister’s choice not to condemn mob behaviour proves Farage point
Farage was in Edinburgh to raise the profile of UKIP – don’t underestimate wee Nige.
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The good:
This idea was thrown around during past droughts notably the one of 1976…
It may be the furthest distance from source, but GB has it’s industrial revolution to thank for it’s incredible canal legacy…get the water to Kendal and the network begins in ernest…
The Bad:
Water:Foreign ?
The Ugly:
Seabed: Westminster
Oil: Westminster
Tidal: Foreign intervention
Wind: Foreign owned
Electricity: Foreign owned
Not much left for after independance is there ?
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You slightly beat me to the point Karl: it would indeed be daft to supply the SE of England with Scottish water but all that is needed is to move Scottish water to the North of England, then move NoE water to the Midlands, then Midlands water to the South. It is still not trivial but it is certainly feasible and how commercially viable depends on how much the SE wants water. (Though, that all said, it is probable that improvements to water capture storage and distribution in the SE would be a more sensible priority – after that is exhausted it is time to look at more radical solutions).
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It’s already possible to transfer water from the giant Kielder reservoir near the Scottish border from Northumberland down through Durham to South Yorkshire – a series of tunnels, pipelines and pumping stations connecting formerly separate water networks down the east side of the Pennines to feed a predicted rise in demand – notably the steel industry – that didn’t materialise.
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I think the dry parts of the UK should accept that they are dry and start living within their means.
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Agreed to a certain point involving domestic usage…however, there is some of the best agricultural land in the UK in the SE/E of England and this may need irrigation.
Waste: We might all want to look at waste again…as with energy waste and line loss…the UK’s water companies are notorious at loosing millions of cuM of water between source and end use.
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Every time there is a drought anywhere the news channels prop up a reporter at a convenient almost dry reservoir. In the backgrounds are huge areas of sand and silt.
Why don’t the water companies get a JCB and a couple of lorries and dig all of it out to increase storage capacity?
Simples? I don’t know – is there a reason why they don’t?
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Jim, I think regardless of how much is dug away and removed such and sand/silt there would still be a reduction of water, this would not increase the amount of water stored. So, the size of the resevoir is not the important factor here, it still requires constant water to keep levels above certain levels.
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The issue has nothing to do with a minuscule change in the climate and everything to do with increasing population and increasing water usage.
When will journalists start checking their facts and stop blaming the climate … it’s like the “wrong kind of leaves”. Climate has always changed … it will always change, but the biggest factor on water supply is the way we use it.
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Exactly…to much waste and too much loss….
We do exactly the same with energy…
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