SERIOUS MONDAY: WATER – TIME TO STOP TAKING IT FOR GRANTED!

Most people now recognise the need to save energy, but how much attention do you pay to the amount of water you waste?

Unless you have a water meter, chances are that you don’t make saving water a priority. After all, Britain is a pretty rainy place at the best of times – so why would we need to conserve water?

While most of us know that water is a precious resource in many countries, we tend to take its availability for granted in the UK. Turn on the tap and it’s there and, unlike other essential services like gas and electricity, most of us don’t pay more even if we use ten times more water than the people next door.

But all that could change as part of a plan to make us think more about the water we waste. Government experts are talking about the need for widespread water metering with incentives for those who reduce their water use.

So how come water shortages can affect us, when we so much rain? Well, it is estimated that within five days of falling as rain, most of the water is back in the sea because of problems such as storage and poor drainage.

And we already have areas where water demand sometimes outstrips supply, particularly in the south east.
At the moment, although we use a lot of domestic water, this is offset by low water use in agriculture and industry thanks to heavy rainfall. But in future, climate change could make a radical difference, causing more frequent droughts throughout the country.

A government report says we must start managing our water more sustainably now and that means major changes in how we all use it.

Its key recommendendations include setting household water efficiency targets for water companies and compulsory metering throughout water stressed areas.

So, if you regularly leave the shower running for five minutes while you’re dressing or undressing or continually run the tap while washing vegetables, now would be an excellent time to start thinking about how much precious water you’re wasting.

And if you need any incentive, check out this vido about a town in the USA where running water is only available for a short time each day.

Susan

LAZY FRIDAY: RELAX ON A CANAL BOAT

 

Have you decided to take your family on a Canal Boat?

Just think of it, no congested roads along with the pollution that goes with them. You can slowly sail down the river / canal – admiring the scenery on either side of the waterway, or maybe moor up somewhere for a bite to eat at any of the varied eateries along the way.

If this has whetted your appetite – great but you may need to know some more about hiring a Canal Boat before jumping in the deep end.

You will probably hire a Narrow Boat.  There are three types:

•    Traditional
This one has a small open rear deck.  And is nice and compact. But with no safety rail, it’s not suitable for young children.

•    Semi – Traditional
It has more standing area and there are seats in an enclosed area, thus making it more suitable for keeping the children safe.

•    The Third One Is The Cruiser
No not the Queen Mary but definitely suitable for cruising down the river on a sunny afternoon. It has a much bigger rear deck than the other two and has seating plus a guardrail.

The Narrow Boats are seven foot wide. And with all mod cons, it can be home from home. Some of the boats can accommodate up to twelve people.

How Is The Narrow Boat Steered?

All Narrow Boats are steered by a tiller at the back of the boat.

What Is The Sleeping Accommodation?

Usually single beds that are set up with bedding etc. There is no need to hide all the bedding during the day.  Unlike some beds that have to double up as sofas during the daytime.

The Other Mod Cons -What Are They?

Most of the Narrow Boats have a cooker in the kitchen, a fridge / freezer and a bathroom with a shower and flush toilet etc. Also hot and cold running water. A television and maybe a cd player.

How Many Hours Per Day Can You Use The Boat?

The amount of time you may wish to sail each day depends on you and your family.  You may sail slowly down the river, stopping frequently for food breaks – so four hours a day may be sufficient. Or for the Speedy Gonzales among you maybe an eight-hour day would suit you better. Anyway whichever, by law you can’t travel after dark.

A List of Terms Used On A Boat:

•    Bed = Berth
•    Kitchen = Galley
•    Rear of the Boat = Stern
•    Front of the Boat = Bow

When you pick up the boat, it will come with enough fuel to last for at least two weeks.

For full details of costs, dates available etc please contact
Tel: +44 (0) 1756 701199
Or check the website.

SERIOUS MONDAY: THE EDEN PROJECT

The Eden Project needs your votes. It hopes to win the Lottery funding in the Big Lottery Fund’s People’s 50 million pounds contest to be decided by the public in December.

If they win, they will start on THE EDGE: a new project to be built in the former china clay pit in Cornwall. The EDGE will focus on the arid regions of the world. It will be a visionary new building focusing on the issues of the time like water, energy and climate change.

Linda McDonald of the Gardens for Life Programme recently visited Barefoot College in Tilonia, Rajasthan in the Great Indian Desert. She saw firsthand how the children of the area were dealing with the issues of drought and water conservation.

She was especially impressed by the children’s appreciation of the value of water. “If you ask a room full of children in the UK what they want most, they may say the latest play station, a new bike, or a new Barbie. When you ask that question in Tilonia, the answer is water, water, water.”

The last proper rainfall in Rajasthan was in 2003. The total rainfall for that year was 250mm, half of what it used to be.
Water conservation is a part of life in Tilonia. The children have learned to use an extensive network of gutters and pipes to save every drop of water. They channel the water into storage tanks with gauges so water can be carefully rationed.
The children and the community drip feed the trees as conventional irrigation is not a viable option. The water would simply evaporate.

“While they are happy to share their water with the fruit trees which benefit the whole community, they also make sure no one misappropriates for their own ends,” said Linda McDonald. “When the water level in one village’s tank mysteriously began to drop, the children and an elder set a watch on the tank and that night caught a goat herder stealing water for his goats. When water is so scarce, communities like those in Tilonia can’t afford to tolerate this kind of anti-social behavior and the goat-herder found himself banished for three weeks, a serious punishment for any inhabitant of the Great Indian Desert.”

Joining Eden’s Garden for Life Network will connect the children of Tilonia and the Barefoot College with their counterparts around the world, allowing them to share their experiences with those from very different climates and cultures.

You can vote for this project by visiting www.edenproject.com.

DAILY GREEN JOKE – WEDNESDAY 07/11/07

People in England and Wales could be forbidden to fill pools with a hose under plans to toughen hosepipe bans. For divers it brings a whole new meaning to the term ‘hard water.’

SERIOUS MONDAY: WATER SUPPLY AND SANITATION PROJECT IN ARMENIA

The Asian Development Bank is extending a $36 million dollar loan to the Water Supply and Sanitation Sector Project, which will assist the Republic of Armenia with sustainable water supply and sanitation services in seven provinces. This project will cover 16 towns and 125 villages. The total project cost is estimated at $45 million and the government of Armenia will provide the balance. The project is aimed to improve public health and the environment.

“The project will improve public health and the environment for about 576,000 people living in the project towns and villages, about 25% of whom live below the poverty line,” said Shakeel Khan, senior urban development specialist of ADB’s central and west Asia department. “The project will mainly focus on optimizing the operation of existing infrastructure and maximizing the operating efficiency of service providers. This will allow the project to economize the investment, achieve considerable development impacts, and ensure sustainability of the water supply and sewage system with sound technical and financial management.”

In the two components of the project- existing networks of water and sewerage systems will be rehabilitated and core issues and challenges regarding efficient management of water and sewerage systems will be addressed. Armenian Water & Sewerage Co. will be the primary company responsible for the project. Management efficiency will be improved by a combination of technical, financial, legal, and public outreach measures.

Enhancing the delivery of water and sanitation services is the main priority of the government. They wish to improve the living standards of the people, the environment, public health and economic opportunities.

Presently more than 60% of the water supply and sewerage infrastructure in 50 towns and 300 villages is in very poor condition. 50% of the water and sewage networks need major work or replacement, mechanical and electrical equipment has become obsolete, system design and standards have become outdated, sewer pipes are clogged or broken and wastewater treatment facilities are not in full operation. Most people receive water for only two to eight hours a day. Poor sanitation and leaking sewers are creating serious health risks and environmental hazards.

Maintenance of water supply and sewerage systems throughout the country has been neglected since 1991 following the collapse of the Soviet Union.

Dawn

SERIOUS MONDAY: WWF SUPPORTS HIGH-EFFICIENCY RICE GROWING METHOD

A new method to grow rice could save hundreds of billions of cubic meters of water while increasing food security, according to a study released by the WWF.

“With a focus on India- a country which faces a major water crisis, yet has the world’s largest rice cultivated area- the study found the system of rice intensification (SRI) method has helped increase yields by over 30%- four to five tonnes per hectare instead of three tonnes per hectare, while using 40% less water than conventional methods,” stated the WWF release.

The SRI method is based on eight principles different to the conventional cultivation method. They include developing nutrient –rich and unflooded nurseries instead of flooded ones; ensuring wider spacing between rice seedlings; preferring composts or manure to synthetic fertilizers; and managing water carefully to avoid that the plant’s roots are saturated.

The SRI method was developed in the 80’s in Madagascar and has been demonstrated to be effective in 28 countries.

“Although the system of rice intensification has shown advantages, the scale of its use leaves much to be desired,” said Dr. Biksham Gujja, Senior Policy Advisor at WWF International. “It is time to start large-scale programmes to support a method that could make a lasting global impact with far-reaching benefits to people and nature.”

The report suggests countries such as India, China and Indonesia convert at least 25% of their current crops to the SRI method by 2025. Not only would it massively reduce water use, but offset methane emissions. SRI fields do not release methane as conventional fields do.

Authorities from the Indian state of Tripura have already committed to move in that direction.

“Our farmers proved the system of rice intensification improves the productivity and we will convert at least 40% of our rice cultivation using this method over the next five years,” said Manik Sarkar, Chief Minister of Tripura State.

“We urge this as a model for rice cultivation elsewhere as it represents one hope for the water crisis affecting so many billions of people.”

Demand for rice is expected to increase by 38% by 2040 which will also deepen the water crisis.

Already 1.2 billion people have no access to adequate water for drinking and hygiene.

Dawn