Preparedness for when

siegemode

Our water situation makes me so :mad::mad::mad:
I am going to try and avoid a meter for as long as I can. Whilst we are encouraged and told to save water the water companies owned by mutinational companies are more intrested paying shareholders than investing in infrastructure and saving water themselves by fixing leaks and building reservoirs. They complain and tell us of water shortages but do little to store it when it rains. They drain ancient aquifers and are busy depleting reserves rather than building for the future. As more people opt for meters believing that it will save them money (which it may do in the short term) I think eventually the govt will force everyone to have a meter. Once this happens it will give even more control to the water companies and the unit rate will increase far higher. Ultimately this I believe will cost us far more. During last years drought we were being told to conserve water whilst over 3.36 billion litres was being lost per day and pre tax profits were £2bn and shareholders were paid £1.5bn. Our bills go up but there appears little improvement in the service provided.
Bottled water also makes me :mad: I recently bourght some Belu water (split pack so down to 20p per bottle) They used to use bpa free bottles but I hadn't seen it for several years. on closer inspection I discovered it was bottled by iceni water and as I delved further I found that iceni water is owned by the same (chinese I think) company that owns Cambridge water company who draw their water from the same bore hole as the water company. So basically the bottled water, iceni or belu and god knows how many others is little more than tap water, but costs far more.
Sorry rant over but just needed to get that off my chest.
Time for a cuppa and another episode of survivors

siegemode

few links of interest about the water companies

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2116231/Water-firms-banning-hosepipes-lose-300m-gallons-day-leaks.html#axzz2KEuedZjV

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2141568/We-plug-leaks-allowed-raise-bills-Water-firms-want-pass-cost-cutting-waste.html#axzz2KEuedZjV

http://www.guardian.co.uk/news/datablog/2012/may/08/water-companies-leaks-target-drought

2tonsils

Just had this warning for Greece from a friend of mine...sounds scary stuff!
Ventura Perera:

New waves of Seismic Energy will be arriving to the Dodecanese Islands, Crete, South and Central Greece regions, with strong phenomenon of dissipation (Gases, Storms, Seismic and volcanic activity ..) Just arriving!! to the Greece regions, Ionian Sea, Aegean Sea..

My other friend in Crete said her house was shaking earlier and that they had three tremors in a couple of hours....scary stuff and the weather is horrendous with the storms. Keep losing the tv signal and the satelite.

2tonsils

Having major problems with communications here now, effects of the two cme's apparently. Computers doing strange things, phones not working and big problems with tv signals. Loads of my friends have the same problems. Got cut off on the land line then the mobile told me it could not find the UK!!!!! My computer just told me that it could not post due to my computer having moved location for the IPC address.....honestly, it never left my lap! Off to watch NCIS if it stays on, I give up.....

siegemode

ITV now, the Tonight programme about administering first aid. For those interested.

[Deleted User]

I'm a trained 1st Aider.

Popperwell

siegemode your views on water companies and meters, interesting and you make a fair point as to what could happen when we all have water meters...decisions, decisions...

herbily

VJsmum wrote: »

I also remember a children's programme called "changes" about a world with no electricity. It was the first programme I ever saw in colour - on our brand new colour TV, (from Radio Rentals LOL). Ooh I've just googled, it was called "The Changes" and was on in 1975. It was adapted from some books by Peter dickinson - I wonder if they are still available?

Yes, still available - start with "The Weathermonger", I think it's the best of the three - about two children who rescue an American "witch" - Britain has gone back to the middle ages, and anyone who deals with modern technology is accused of witchcraft, so they have to get him somewhere safe. Great story, and a really quick read.:)

missrlr

Siegemode don't forget the fact lots of pensions invest in water and other utility companies. So in away we are still all paying for our own retirement despite investing .....

the_cake

Hi 2T, your weather sounds horrible, stay safe, and I can assure you the UK is still here - unless I am having some weird sort of hallucination, anyway ...
Prepping again for the next round of snow: cat food, litter, horse feed, milk, here we go - trapper hat on, check. Beginning to really look forward to Spring now. We have a new kitten (Jeeves), who already thinks it's Spring. He's like Billy Whizz on speed in the evenings!!