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Original poster

To think that people don’t grasp that we can be in a drought even when the weather is cool?

39 replies

HoppityBun · Today 01:06

Because there is now a severe drought in parts of England. When we were having those weeks and weeks of hot weather, the hottest summer on record in parts of this country, the message boards here were full of alarm about what was happening. But now it’s cooler and we’ve had a few days of rain and apparently everybody thinks it’s all good right now.

But it’s not alright, at all:

On 9 October, Yorkshire area moved into drought status. On 15 October, the government declared severe drought in parts of Cornwall, Devon, Dorset, Somerset, East Sussex and West Sussex

In Scotland, in the east , there was scarcity of water and alerts, particularly in Tyne (Lothian).

Yet water is being used all the time as though all you have to do is turn the tap on and it will always be there. I’ve even heard smallholders on podcasts saying that their aquifers are getting lower and where they used to have springs, these are drying up. The warning signs are there but no one seems to notice.

Nobody seems to give a shit. It doesn’t seem possible to grasp that we can be in a severe drought even though the weather isn’t hot and we’re heading for winter. It’s perplexing. Do people not care? Do people not notice or understand how serious this is and that it’s going to get worse?

Or is it just that “I’ll use what water I want because I can pay for it and I don’t GAF?”.

OP posts:
Bikenutz · Today 08:28

muddyford · Today 07:41

I'm in the southwest with the highest water charges in the country, apparently. A lot of this area was under three feet of water in February. Now we are in severe drought. Doesn't stop moron down the road pressure washing his car twice a week, but SWW don't have a 'phone number to report it.

Yes it’s ridiculous isn’t it? I reported a leak back in the summer and the report form was buried in a hard to find corner of their website. And it took them over two weeks to fix it.

They make it as hard as possible for the public to contact them because doing anything that meets their legal obligations, like repairing leaks or tackling hosepipe ban breaches, costs them and cuts into their precious profits.

muddyford · Today 07:41

I'm in the southwest with the highest water charges in the country, apparently. A lot of this area was under three feet of water in February. Now we are in severe drought. Doesn't stop moron down the road pressure washing his car twice a week, but SWW don't have a 'phone number to report it.

Bikenutz · Today 07:28

The privatised water companies make me sick - the public have been completely taken as mugs.

But this drought situation affects us all. If we have to move to stand pipes, each person will get 10 litres a day, for drinking, cooking, washing, everything. It’s in everyone’s interest to conserve water AND keep the pressure up on the water companies to fix leaks.

Owninterpreter · Today 07:27

We recieved a message from our water provider reminding people there was still a hosepipe ban yesterday.

I had assumed the ban was over to be honest as we had some rain but also wondered why anyone needed to use one now it was raining enough.

I didn't think the drought was over or not though. I was thinking how many trees are going to make it through winter aa the damage is done, and I hope the reserves fill up now.

Autumnalhibernationisthedream · Today 07:22

I honestly think now is the time to go nanny state and start public ads spelling stuff out for all the ‘I’m entitled to’ people. In every aspect of life but pander to them and make it seems like these things work out for them eg you know if you drive less it’ll cost you less, you know walking is free? You know if you use less electricity it’s cheaper? etc etc etc

ExtraHotDoubleShot · Today 07:22

HettyTagliatelli · Today 01:54

I think people care but hypocrisy from the water companies leads to understandable apathy. If the water companies don’t care enough to fix the leaks at the same time as charging us extortionate prices then it seems like the problem can’t be that bad. Equally, if the government won’t force the water companies to do more to save water and instead prioritises shareholders profits, then why should people let their gardens die off even more? It isn’t a problem that can be fixed by the little people.

This is how I feel.

As an individual I do more than enough. I haven’t taken a flight in 10 years. DH drives but I can’t, so we have 1 car in our household and I’ve always taken public transport. I’m mindful of over consumption, I buy most things second hand, we don’t eat much meat. I clean using white vinegar so my impact of the water system is minimal. We spent a small fortune replacing our hideous plastic grass garden with real grass and insect friendly plants and trees.

But the water companies here do nothing but increase prices, discharge sewage into the sea and make local people and animals sick. They’ve made record profits while dumping literal shit into the environment and doing fuck all to change it.

So nope, we’re going to have to hit rock bottom with this one.

Bikenutz · Today 07:22

Needacalminginfluence · Today 07:14

I must say I wasn't particularly aware the situation was so bad until I heard the news about the recent drought announcements.
The area I live in isnt one of the worst affected and i'm not a big water user, particularly now I dont need to water the garden.
I don't know what the publicity is like in the very dry areas but I expect the visual evidence is all around. But I do think it is really important to keep this issue in the news and yes i care very much.

I’m in one of the worst affected areas and there are few visible signs - the fields and grass are green again. But go up to the reservoirs and they are extremely low.

AudiSQ6 · Today 07:19

Yanbu.

ExtraHotDoubleShot · Today 07:17

Exhaustedlady · Today 01:39

Yes I care, but I also know my usage is nothing compared to the massive corporations. So whilst I live by if it’s yellow let it mellow….i also will water my garden

But the ‘massive corporations’ themselves exist to provide services for the public. They’re not completely separate entities.

Needacalminginfluence · Today 07:14

I must say I wasn't particularly aware the situation was so bad until I heard the news about the recent drought announcements.
The area I live in isnt one of the worst affected and i'm not a big water user, particularly now I dont need to water the garden.
I don't know what the publicity is like in the very dry areas but I expect the visual evidence is all around. But I do think it is really important to keep this issue in the news and yes i care very much.

Isittimeformynapyet · Today 05:21

Can you explain how you've reached the conclusion that "everybody thinks it’s all good right now" ?

HettyTagliatelli · Today 01:54

I think people care but hypocrisy from the water companies leads to understandable apathy. If the water companies don’t care enough to fix the leaks at the same time as charging us extortionate prices then it seems like the problem can’t be that bad. Equally, if the government won’t force the water companies to do more to save water and instead prioritises shareholders profits, then why should people let their gardens die off even more? It isn’t a problem that can be fixed by the little people.

Exhaustedlady · Today 01:39

Yes I care, but I also know my usage is nothing compared to the massive corporations. So whilst I live by if it’s yellow let it mellow….i also will water my garden

PoppieCock · Today 01:17

I don’t think it’s fair to say ‘everybody thinks it’s all good now’?

I mean obviously there will always be some unintelligent people around but it’s not the majority.