Water solution (From Oxford Mail)

Water solution

10:00am Monday 23rd April 2012 in Letters

I am delighted that someone has taken up my suggestions (Oxford Mail, March 2012) on how to move water around the country to benefit those areas affected by drought.

According to Radio 5 recently, Severn Trent is selling some surplus water to Anglia.

This untreated water will be pumped into a river, flow downstream into Anglia where it can be extracted, treated and re-distributed.

Although I believe water generally should be a national asset, this is a small step in the right direction and I have no major problem with this commercial activity.

However, it is noteworthy that the Severn Trent water will be drawn from bore holes in the Birmingham area, which is just up the road from Thames Water customers.

I would hope they have also considered this remedial option.

I have my doubts. The Thames Water solution appears to be the immediate ban, backed up with costly radio commercials imploring us to save water.

Interestingly, in one commercial they have even suggested that “repairing a dripping domestic tap” would be a major contribution to water savings.

It forgets about fixing its own leaking pipes. Perhaps that is too expensive.

I read recently Thames Water has set aside £1.98m to reward three executive directors with bonuses. These bonuses can’t be for not fixing leaking pipes, surely?

GEOFF MILLWARD Windmill Avenue Bicester