Last week the government granted a drought order to Sutton and East Surrey Water banning the non-essential use of water. The government is still considering requests to grant similar orders to Southern Water and Mid Kent Water. Thames Water - which last week deferred applying for a similar drought order - said there was still a "significant chance" it would have to make the application "at some point".
Actually it may be the worst for 100 years, not made any better by profligate water consumption habits of western lifestyles. But it will have to be addressed at that level because most predictions of climate change effects in Britain show increased draught especially in the south east; just where the highest population concentration is.
So what are we to do? Well, I confess I've been irritated by calls from southerners to appropriate our northern supplies: first they act condescendingly towards the north, bleed the economic lifeblood from it, and take the lead in unsustainable lifestyles and then expect somehow that 'we' will bale them out when the pigeons come home to roost. Grrr. Hands off! Sort your infrastructure and pricing mechanisms out to push you towards greater sustainability. Or better yet, organise economic policy to encourage populations to move to where the water is. And another piece of advice: lose the condescending attitude; it's never attractive when you are asking favours.
Glad I've got that out of my system. Perhaps I can now work on more building myself some more constructive attitudes.
Guardian Unlimited | Special reports | Rainy May 'won't end drought':
Filed in: drought, England, 2006, Southeast, water, climate
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