Global Water Bankruptcy : Model Boating Affected?
(off-topic rant)
I see that there is talk about 'a shortage of water that appears almost world wide.'. While I appreciate that this is a shorthand way of saying that 'water that we expected to be there isn't there', this expression leads people to think of water as some kind of raw material which can be depleted, such as oil or coal. This is NOT the case. On this planet we have a fixed amount of water (give or take slight leakages at the edge of the atmosphere, and additional meteoric arrivals). Over billions of years the volume of water we have has remained essentially fixed, and it passes through many stages in the hydrological cycle without being used up. If everyone watered their lawns with a swimming pool's worth of water a day we would still have the same amount of water at the end of the day as when we started.
What we are wasting (using?) when we pour water down the drain is NOT water. It is the investment in water capture, storage, purification and distribution by the water companies, who are only too happy to pretend that 'water is short' when what they really mean is that they have not provided adequate investment to satisfy demand in extreme conditions. When rivers or canals run dry this is because we have likewise not provided adequate hydraulic management. There are, of course, decisions to be made about the cost-benefit of various levels of investment, but as long as the water companies are able to pretend that this is a 'resource shortage', and that people 'should use less water' those decisions will be inadequately informed...
(rant over)
I see that there is talk about 'a shortage of water that appears almost world wide.'. While I appreciate that this is a shorthand way of saying that 'water that we expected to be there isn't there', this expression leads people to think of water as some kind of raw material which can be depleted, such as oil or coal. This is NOT the case. On this planet we have a fixed amount of water (give or take slight leakages at the edge of the atmosphere, and additional meteoric arrivals). Over billions of years the volume of water we have has remained essentially fixed, and it passes through many stages in the hydrological cycle without being used up. If everyone watered their lawns with a swimming pool's worth of water a day we would still have the same amount of water at the end of the day as when we started.
What we are wasting (using?) when we pour water down the drain is NOT water. It is the investment in water capture, storage, purification and distribution by the water companies, who are only too happy to pretend that 'water is short' when what they really mean is that they have not provided adequate investment to satisfy demand in extreme conditions. When rivers or canals run dry this is because we have likewise not provided adequate hydraulic management. There are, of course, decisions to be made about the cost-benefit of various levels of investment, but as long as the water companies are able to pretend that this is a 'resource shortage', and that people 'should use less water' those decisions will be inadequately informed...
(rant over)
North West England.
This must be one of the times that I am more than happy to live in an area that is traditionally regarded as being “wetter” than where I had lived previously (in Somerset and Devon).
The north west of England has enjoyed some really nice weather this year - including some days that I have found just a bit too hot to be comfortable in, but we have also had enough rain to enable us to fayre a little better in the water stakes.
Most of the canals in our area are still full of water and working, and our local club lake is also OK too, and we have not has any hose pipe bans.
Most of the grass in our area is more brown than green , but overall I think we have been very lucky with the weather with enough heat and enough rain (just) to cope well enough and enjoy the sunshine too.
I also remember 1976 very well too, as we were living in Exmouth (Devon) at that time when we had some very hot weather and a water shortage.
Vegetables were tiny and expensive and we had a stand pipe at the end of our road to provide water that had to be carried back to the house…….and my wife Sue was pregnant with our first son, so it was especially uncomfortable for her.
Compared to then, this year in the north west of England has been very pleasant with enough water for household and leisure use.
Bob.
This must be one of the times that I am more than happy to live in an area that is traditionally regarded as being “wetter” than where I had lived previously (in Somerset and Devon).
The north west of England has enjoyed some really nice weather this year - including some days that I have found just a bit too hot to be comfortable in, but we have also had enough rain to enable us to fayre a little better in the water stakes.
Most of the canals in our area are still full of water and working, and our local club lake is also OK too, and we have not has any hose pipe bans.
Most of the grass in our area is more brown than green , but overall I think we have been very lucky with the weather with enough heat and enough rain (just) to cope well enough and enjoy the sunshine too.
I also remember 1976 very well too, as we were living in Exmouth (Devon) at that time when we had some very hot weather and a water shortage.
Vegetables were tiny and expensive and we had a stand pipe at the end of our road to provide water that had to be carried back to the house…….and my wife Sue was pregnant with our first son, so it was especially uncomfortable for her.
Compared to then, this year in the north west of England has been very pleasant with enough water for household and leisure use.
Bob.
Never too old to learn
For UK it is not the first time. In 1976 , 50 years ago we had very hot weather, our son had a cheap camera that 'melted' on the rear shelf in the car.
About that time we had a holiday on the canals and the water was very low only 2 hours a day allowed for travel. The Grand Union was just the centre 'cut'.
I do not remember the model boating much as the family was taking up most of my time boy 10 daughter 8. School runs etc and I had a good old Morris Minor Traveller car. Lots of wood with doors at the rear and it squeaked as we travelled!
One of the clubs I belong to has a small pond surrounded on 3 sides by trees and that seems to be holding up, but it is topped up by the next door Water company who own the land etc. We have an agreement with them to run a model railway which is open to the public for rides twice a month and the sailing is popular as we have our own sheds and chairs and we park quite close.
Roy
About that time we had a holiday on the canals and the water was very low only 2 hours a day allowed for travel. The Grand Union was just the centre 'cut'.
I do not remember the model boating much as the family was taking up most of my time boy 10 daughter 8. School runs etc and I had a good old Morris Minor Traveller car. Lots of wood with doors at the rear and it squeaked as we travelled!
One of the clubs I belong to has a small pond surrounded on 3 sides by trees and that seems to be holding up, but it is topped up by the next door Water company who own the land etc. We have an agreement with them to run a model railway which is open to the public for rides twice a month and the sailing is popular as we have our own sheds and chairs and we park quite close.
Roy
Hi Lew
Our club lake is so low that our launching jetty cannot be used safely and has been cordoned off, we must now launch via a narrow set of stairs. The club is extending our winch launching cradle to make it usable with the low water. Our annual steam day has been cancelled. The same thing happened last year.
A set of locks on our local canal have been closed stopping navigation on the canal, there are further issues caused by a pump pacing up further north on the canal.
Then according to some politicians global warming is false news.
Ed
Our club lake is so low that our launching jetty cannot be used safely and has been cordoned off, we must now launch via a narrow set of stairs. The club is extending our winch launching cradle to make it usable with the low water. Our annual steam day has been cancelled. The same thing happened last year.
A set of locks on our local canal have been closed stopping navigation on the canal, there are further issues caused by a pump pacing up further north on the canal.
Then according to some politicians global warming is false news.
Ed
Ed
Global Water Bankruptcy : Model Boating Affected?
In watching various media there is a shortage of water that appears almost world wide. Here in the U.S. I see it happening in the west, Lake Meade, the Colorado River, and in the central states the Mississippi. Just watching reports about Lake Constance in Switzerland, the Danube River and in the U.K. various canals with locks no longer passable.
So is any of this affecting model boats operating in your smaller lakes and ponds? Here in this area of Florida we are not too far from salt water. We live on a peninsula on the Florida peninsula and with almost daily rain the aquifer is holding steady. (Last few meets were cancelled do to too much rain.) I'm curious being this seems to be a world wide issue and I hope that this has not impacted you all too much.
So is any of this affecting model boats operating in your smaller lakes and ponds? Here in this area of Florida we are not too far from salt water. We live on a peninsula on the Florida peninsula and with almost daily rain the aquifer is holding steady. (Last few meets were cancelled do to too much rain.) I'm curious being this seems to be a world wide issue and I hope that this has not impacted you all too much.
Lew
Florida, USA
Home page: https://www.RCFlorida.org/lmb
Florida, USA
Home page: https://www.RCFlorida.org/lmb
Liked by
Loading…