Are we heading for a drought? Rivers drying up and reservoirs very low. I was over the Woodhead yesterday and saw just how low the reservoirs there were. Clowbridge is low.

Have we in UK constructed any new reservoirs since Victorian times, since when there has been a population explosion?

The UK is a very wet place.

Next 10 days or so will fill them all up again

No, it will rain for the next week

As the population grows we need more reservoirs , not sure if there are statistics available?
What annoys me though is when there is a leak evident in the road and nothing happens for weeks.

Certainly no shortage of rain in the West of Scotland I can assure you.

tiger76 wrote: ↑

Thu Jun 23, 2022 1:38 pm

Certainly no shortage of rain in the West of Scotland I can assure you.

No Tiger no shortage here either but reservoirs are very low and for example the river Wharfe has dried up inpart. Its a case of does supply meet demand even given our surfeit of rain. Demand will have trebled at least since Victorian times. If we do experience a drought perhaps the utilities suppliers should look at desalination plants.

Burnley1989 wrote: ↑

Thu Jun 23, 2022 1:28 pm

No, it will rain for the next week

But will it be the right sort of rain!!!

The weather forecast has it pretty dry for the next 2 weeks with a bit of light drizzle towards the end of next week.

Stayingup wrote: ↑

Thu Jun 23, 2022 1:46 pm

But will it be the right sort of rain!!!

"be r8, it's dry rain"

BBC/ Met Office has issued a weather warning for thunderstorms in Lancashire today.

Stayingup wrote: ↑

Thu Jun 23, 2022 1:27 pm

Are we heading for a drought? Rivers drying up and reservoirs very low. I was over the Woodhead yesterday and saw just how low the reservoirs there were. Clowbridge is low.

Have we in UK constructed any new reservoirs since Victorian times, since when there has been a population explosion?

Rutland Water was 1976 and Kielder Water 1982, to name just two. I don't know how many more.

Stayingup wrote: ↑

Thu Jun 23, 2022 1:44 pm

No Tiger no shortage here either but reservoirs are very low and for example the river Wharfe has dried up inpart. Its a case of does supply meet demand even given our surfeit of rain. Demand will have trebled at least since Victorian times. If we do experience a drought perhaps the utilities suppliers should look at desalination plants.

Massively expensive and unnecessary in a country like the UK. Only if we achieve virtually free energy would this even be considered. Even then, it would be a waste of time.

Here's a list of UK reservoirs and information on when they were constructed. Only two of the reservoirs on this list are Victorian.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_r ... _by_volume

The UK is not short of water.

Stayingup wrote: ↑

Thu Jun 23, 2022 1:46 pm

But will it be the right sort of rain!!!

Can’t be doing with that fake water

Stayingup wrote: ↑

Thu Jun 23, 2022 1:27 pm

Have we in UK constructed any new reservoirs since Victorian times, since when there has been a population explosion?

They have yes, lots of them… quite a few in Rossendale too. The North West’s biggest problem is because we get so much rain Water is piped to other areas so our supply quickly diminishes during heat waves… even when its still raining here.

By 2060 we will have near enough doubled the UK population in just over a century!... Infrastructure, already under massive stress like water supply is going to be a nightmare of biblical proportions... We are forever playing catchup with Infrastructure and it's going to come to a head at some stage... Luckily I won't be here to witness the mess when it hits hard big time.

They have yes, lots of them… quite a few in Rossendale too. The North West’s biggest problem is because we get so much rain Water is piped to other areas so our supply quickly diminishes during heat waves… even when its still raining here.

Are you sure?... Unless you mean little ones because it’s been 30 years since the last large reservoir was built in the UK...

https://www.newcivilengineer.com/latest ... 3-12-2020/

https://www.castlewater.co.uk/blog/why- ... reservoirs

Had to use a brolly for the barbie last week when apparently london had a heatwave

This sounds more promising -

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/articl ... ances.html

https://www.lincolnshirelive.co.uk/news ... re-5920455

I was told all our household water comes from reservoirs hidden away underground.

BigChaCha wrote: ↑

Thu Jun 23, 2022 2:06 pm

Are you sure?... Unless you mean little ones because it’s been 30 years since the last large reservoir was built in the UK...

https://www.newcivilengineer.com/latest ... 3-12-2020/

https://www.castlewater.co.uk/blog/why- ... reservoirs

Yes I’m sure…. The poster asked if any had been built since Victorian times, not the last thirty years.

Across England and Wales, just under 3 billion litres (660 million gallons) of water is lost to leaks every day - equivalent to 1,180 Olympic swimming pools.

We shouldn't have droughts, but it would take a few years of shareholders getting no dividends to sort out, which obvioulsy won't do.

BigChaCha wrote: ↑

Thu Jun 23, 2022 2:01 pm

By 2060 we will have near enough doubled the UK population in just over a century!... Infrastructure, already under massive stress like water supply is going to be a nightmare of biblical proportions... We are forever playing catchup with Infrastructure and it's going to come to a head at some stage... Luckily I won't be here to witness the mess when it hits hard big time.

'Nightmare of Biblical proportions'?

I thought they had excess water in those days - Noah's Ark for example.

Sproggy wrote: ↑

Thu Jun 23, 2022 2:18 pm

Across England and Wales, just under 3 billion litres (660 million gallons) of water is lost to leaks every day - equivalent to 1,180 Olympic swimming pools.

We shouldn't have droughts, but it would take a few years of shareholders getting no dividends to sort out, which obvioulsy won't do.

There is plenty of money being spent on fixing leaks in the reservoirs but it's non stop work.
I used to do a lot of scaffolding work for them, mainly drilling platforms.

BigChaCha wrote: ↑

Thu Jun 23, 2022 2:01 pm

By 2060 we will have near enough doubled the UK population in just over a century!... Infrastructure, already under massive stress like water supply is going to be a nightmare of biblical proportions... We are forever playing catchup with Infrastructure and it's going to come to a head at some stage... Luckily I won't be here to witness the mess when it hits hard big time.

In 1960 there were 52m people living here, in 2022 it's 67m. A fair bit to go to reach 104m in the next 38.

Rowls wrote: ↑

Thu Jun 23, 2022 1:54 pm

Massively expensive and unnecessary in a country like the UK. Only if we achieve virtually free energy would this even be considered. Even then, it would be a waste of time.

Here's a list of UK reservoirs and information on when they were constructed. Only two of the reservoirs on this list are Victorian.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_r ... _by_volume

The UK is not short of water.

Thanks interesting. None this century I see and many a century old.

A friend of mine called me after seeing my post and he said new ones have been constructed UNDERGROUND and there is one near Bacup. I didn't know that .

But it doesn't take away from.my surprise at seeing the Woodhead reservoirs so low.

Hipper wrote: ↑

Thu Jun 23, 2022 2:30 pm

'Nightmare of Biblical proportions'?

I thought they had excess water in those days - Noah's Ark for example.

Noahs Arc wasn't in Lancashire.

dsr wrote: ↑

Thu Jun 23, 2022 2:48 pm

In 1960 there were 52m people living here, in 2022 it's 67m. A fair bit to go to reach 104m in the next 38.

ONS projects 71m for the UK by 2045, so 80m(ish) is probably the upper extent at that rate of increase.

In 1960 there were 52m people living here, in 2022 it's 67m. A fair bit to go to reach 104m in the next 38.

I said, "By 2060 we will have NEAR ENOUGH doubled the UK population IN JUST OVER a century!... I never mentioned 1960 or 100 years!... Look at the stats and the population is predicted to have nearly doubled in just 120 to 130 years, from the 30s, 40s or 50s... The fastest addition in the shortest time period ever, whether that is worked out in actual numbers, per capita, per acre, per mile, per thousand people, per whatever!

Yes I’m sure…. The poster asked if any had been built since Victorian times, not the last thirty years.

The poster didn't just ask if any had been built since Victorian times...

The poster mentioned ... 'Victorian times, since when there has been a population explosion'...

You replied... 'Yes, lots of them' since Victorian times!... I have just looked at 28 reservoirs and dams in Lancashire and 90%+ of them were built in the Victorian period!... That hardly equates to lots being built since the population explosion which the poster asked about.

BigChaCha wrote: ↑

Thu Jun 23, 2022 3:35 pm

The poster didn't just ask if any had been built since Victorian times...

The poster mentioned ... 'Victorian times, since when there has been a population explosion'...

You replied... 'Yes, lots of them' since Victorian times!... I have just looked at 28 reservoirs and dams in Lancashire and 90%+ of them were built in the Victorian period!... That hardly equates to lots being built since the population explosion which the poster asked about.

I answered the question he asked, which if you look he has acknowledged. Any problem you have with my comment is yours.

BigChaCha wrote: ↑

Thu Jun 23, 2022 3:19 pm

I said, "By 2060 we will have NEAR ENOUGH doubled the UK population IN JUST OVER a century!... I never mentioned 1960 or 100 years!... Look at the stats and the population is predicted to have nearly doubled in just 120 to 130 years, from the 30s, 40s or 50s... The fastest addition in the shortest time period ever, whether that is worked out in actual numbers, per capita, per acre, per mile, per thousand people, per whatever!

In 1930 the population was 46m, so if it gets to 80m as projected in 2060 it will have risen by 73% in 130 years. It's a stretch to say that's almost doubled in just over 100 years, but if that's what you (hyperbolically) meant, then fair enough.

It's not afaster increase than the 19th century though, when the population rose from 9m in 1801 to 41m in 1901. Even on actual numbers, the 19th century wins, and when you measure it as percentage numbers, it's not close. I think someone has been feeding you false figures.

https://localhistories.org/a-history-of ... f-england/

Have we in UK constructed any new reservoirs since Victorian times, since when there has been a population explosion?
[/quote]

Keilder res is very large built in the 1980s

Quickenthetempo wrote: ↑

Thu Jun 23, 2022 2:36 pm

There is plenty of money being spent on fixing leaks in the reservoirs but it's non stop work.
I used to do a lot of scaffolding work for them, mainly drilling platforms.

Certainly not doubting that, I'm sure they're spending billions. It's just that they could spend an awful lot more if that was the priority.

"The payouts in dividends to shareholders of parent companies between 1991 and 2019 amount to £57bn – nearly half the sum they spent on maintaining and improving the country’s pipes and treatment plants in that period."

Kielder built in the 1980s to supply water to Tyneside and to be pumped south to supply industry on Teesside. Before completion, Thatcher closed industry on Teesside but my water rates in Newcastle are still paying the strain!

nonayclaret wrote: ↑

Thu Jun 23, 2022 3:54 pm

Have we in UK constructed any new reservoirs since Victorian times, since when there has been a population explosion?

Keilder res is very large built in the 1980s
[/quote]

Yes I realize that now and that was my question. I should also have asked Victorian and Edwardian periods.

elwaclaret wrote: ↑

Thu Jun 23, 2022 1:59 pm

They have yes, lots of them… quite a few in Rossendale too. The North West’s biggest problem is because we get so much rain Water is piped to other areas so our supply quickly diminishes during heat waves… even when its still raining here.

Quite a few in Rissendale recently? I must have missed that but I lived overseas for quite a long time.

All is ok, it’s raining in Burnley now.

I used to work for United utilities and in dry conditions they keep reservoirs visible to the public artificially low, to encourage less usage.

Jezzzz I live I the wettest place I the whole of Ireland and people still think we have no water

Loyal Supporter wrote: ↑

Thu Jun 23, 2022 5:43 pm

I used to work for United utilities and in dry conditions they keep reservoirs visible to the public artificially low, to encourage less usage.

How do they keep them artificially low? Thats ridiculous.

Stayingup wrote: ↑

Thu Jun 23, 2022 6:58 pm

How do they keep them artificially low? Thats ridiculous.

https://www.thameswater.co.uk/about-us/ ... ll-figures

I hear that Garlick has bought a reservoir.

I always panic when we have a few days of warm weather. It reminds me of the time in the 90's when I had to wash my car with a bucket and sponge and not use the hosepipe for a few weeks

If you lot have a bit of extra water, would you mind shipping it here to Southern California please? because we DO have a drought.....

a tiny little island should never ever be threatened with a drought in 2022

Stayingup wrote: ↑

Thu Jun 23, 2022 2:57 pm

Noahs Arc wasn't in Lancashire.

I'll tell you an old-fashioned story
That grandfather used to relate,
Of a builder and joining contractor
Who's name it were Sam Oswaldthwaite.

In a shop on the banks of the Irwell
There Sam used to follow his trade,
In a place you'll have heard of called Bury
You know, where black puddings is made.

One day Sam were filling a knot hole
With putty when in through the door,
Came an old man fair reeked i'whiskers
An th'old man said good morning I'm Noah.

Sam asked Noah what were his business
And t'old chap went on to remark,
That not liking the look of the weather
He was thinking of building an ark.

He'd got all the wood for the bulwarks
And all t'other shipbuilding junk,
Now he wanted some nice birds-eye maple
To panel the sides of his bunk.

Now maple were Sams monopoly
That means it were all his to cut,
And nobody else hadn't got none
So he asked Noah three ha'pence a foot.

A ha'penny too much replied Noah
Penny a foots more the mark,
A penny a foot and when rain comes
I'll give you a ride in my ark.

But neither would budge in the bargain
The whole thing were kind of a jam,
So Sam put his tongue out at Noah
And Noah made long bacon at Sam.

In wrath and ill-feeling they parted
Not knowing when they'd meet again,
And Sam 'ad forgot all about it
'Til one day it started to rain.

It rained and it rained for a fortnight
It flooded the whole countryside,
It rained and it still kept on raining
'Til th'Irwell were fifty miles wide.

The houses were soon under water
And folks to the roof had to climb,
They said t'was the rottenest summer
As Bury had had for some time.

The rain showed no sign of abating
And water rose hour by hour,
'Til th'only dry land were at Blackpool
and that were on top of the tower.

So Sam started swimming for Blackpool
It took him best part of a week,
His clothes were wet through when he got there
And his boots were beginning to leak.

He stood to his watch-chain in water
On tower-top just before dark,
When who should come sailing towards him
But old Noah steering his ark.

They stared at each other in silence
'Til ark were alongside all but,
Then Noah said what price yon maple
Sam answered three ha'pence a foot.

Noah said nay I'll make thee an offer
Same as I did t'other day,
A penny a foot and a free ride
Now come on lad what do thee say.

Three ha'pence a foot came the answer
So Noah his sail had to hoist,
And sail off again in a dudgeon
While Sam stood determined but moist.

So Noah cruised around flying his pigeons
'Til fortieth day of the wet,
And on his way home passing Blackpool
He saw old Sam standing there yet.

His chin just stuck out of the water
A comical figure he cut,
Noah said now whats the price of yon maple
And Sam answered three ha'pence a foot.

Said Noah you'd best take my offer
It's the last time I'll be hereabouts,
And if water comes half an inch higher
I'll happen get maple for nowt.

Three ha'pence a foot it'll cost you
And as for me Sam says don't fret,
'Skys took a turn since this morning
I think it'll brighten up yet.

When the rivers get low, the problem is always compounded by abstraction. I was fishing on the Nidd in Yorkshire today and the farmer pumped water out of the river from 8am until I left at 1pm. Multiply that by all the farms adjacent to the river and that's a substantial affect on the volume of water.

Its coming. Reservoirs are very low. Leeds - Liverpool canal now closed in places to lack of water.

If you've never been without water and had to fill a bucket up from the water tank the council left (1983?), then you've never lived.