Quote Originally Posted by IainBusby View Post
I don't see the need to reduce the water capicity of the cisterns as the only real problem we have with water shortages in this country is down to the privatised water companies who won't spend enough money on the infrastucture to stop the enormous wastage caused by leaks.

Good water and sewerage systems are too important to be left to private companies who's first priority is profits for their shareholders and huge bonuses for their top executives. Before privatisation water and sewerage systems suffered from years of under investment under successive governments both labour and conservative and although the privatised companies have increased investment, it's only because they had a sweetheart deal which allowed them to increase their charges by 5% above the rate of inflation year on year.

IMHO, if water and sewerage had been left in the public sector and the water rates (as they used to called) had been increased by 5% above the rate of inflation each year, then all of that extra money could have been spent on improvements, but instead of all of the money being used for improvements to the systems, a large percentage of it has gone to the shareholders and fat cat executives of the privatised water companies.

Iain.
Indeed, I agree with you comments. The real issue is the disconnect between both the environmentalists; the corporate desire to maximise profits, and the physical engineering constraints of the system.

The system is basically split into above ground technology; i.e. what we see and use every day, and the anonymous underground technology. The underground technology in many areas is of Victorian design, which were all based upon population density, cistern discharge flow, and rain water run off to sewer rates. Our Victorian ancestors were excellent engineers.

The ability to carry away waste from the flushing water closet to sewer primarily depends upon water volume and velocity within the pipe. Presently we are reducing water volume to sewer and the discharge velocity is insufficient to efficiently carry away the waste..

AJ