UKH

I'm still being frugal in my use of water as we are still very much depleted in volumes of water in storage.

I have been to Scotland a reasonable amount in the last few weeks, but when I went for my usual run at Rutland water a couple of days ago, the water levels are still several metres down.

The tide was out, and yet there is little media encouragement to save water at the moment.

Are you still being careful in your water usage?

You monitor things here (not Rutland)

https://www.stwater.co.uk/about-us/reservoir-levels/

An upward trend. Should be fullish by end of winter, I'd say.

I was thinking the same last week, I went for a run by the Hawkridge reservoir in the quantocks (only a little one) last weekend, it looked like a puddle! Never seen it so low. Looks like many of the reservoirs in the southwest are very low, and only in the last week or 2 starting to fill...

https://www.southwestwater.co.uk/environment/water-resources/current-reserv...

I've not been particularly great at saving water,  but haven't washed bikes/car etc since the spring, will try a bit harder this month!

The reservoir plot in September’s water situation report suggests most are low and still decreasing.  Only one London group is raising - transfer scheme?

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/...

Yes still trying hard to reduce water useage as Yorkshire Water reservoirs are frighteningly low compared to this time last year. On the plus side, levels at my local reservoir have risen considerably (6-8 feet) in the last couple of weeks.

Until water meters are compulsory in the UK we will never get a grip on water usage. 

The water companies aren't really fit for purpose either. The number of ongoing leaks I see from manhole covers must waste collosal volumes each day. It's almost as if they put their shareholders ahead of anything else.

That is actually the first responsibility of the directors of any private company - they can't really be blamed for it.

Fortunately, in competitive industries, putting the interests of customers first normally coincides with the interests of shareholders. Fail your customers and you won't have much of a business. 

In monopoly industries, or industries where cartels can operate, it's the job of government to regulate in the customers' interest. That's a job our governments have generally failed to do well.

Martin

Something often said, but not actually the case.

The first duty listed is to act only within the powers granted to a director.  The second is to promote the success of the company - which is a much broader term than putting the shareholders first.

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/being-a-company-director

https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2006/46/part/10/chapter/2

I in no way think for-profit shareholders in public serving utilities - let alone an obligate monopoly like a water firm - are in any way a good thing, and I think their interests are placed too high compared to the public their investment serves, but a director’s duty is more nuanced.

As  a resident of Scotland it still boggles my mind that water companies south of the border are private companies. Water provision should not be driven by filling shareholders coffers.

That act has a good list of requirements on directors. I'd be interested to know of cases where directors have been disqualified (prosecuted??) formnit fulfilling requirements around environment, community etc.