‘Flood report blames water company’

A report commissioned by Hull City Council has blamed Yorkshire Water for the severity of the summer floods in 2007. The report claims that the water company ignored warnings from as early as 1996 and failed to correct technical issues, leading to the failure of Hull’s drainage system and the subsequent flooding of more than 8,600 homes, 1,300 businesses and 90 across Hull. The inability of the pump to remove water meant that more homes suffered more extensive and prolonged flooding and thus more severe damage. If action had been taken years ago then the June 2007 floods may not have caused so much devastation. Yorkshire Water responded by saying that no drainage system could have coped with the waters and that “The issue is not about building bigger pumps, but of the capacity of the drains and the sewers to cope with the intensity and concentration of the rainfall in these extreme weather events”.

The report predicts future flooding problems in the area, saying that “Until a permanent solution is built, Hull is served by an under-capacity, sub-standard system helped out by two 40-year-old pumping stations.” The report recommends that the pumping station should be modernised and its capacity increased, and although Yorkshire Water plans to invest in and improve the infrastructure, for many this is too little too later. Yorkshire Water is also accused of ‘repeatedly overestimating the capacity of its equipment to deal with heavy rain’ contributing to thousands of pounds worth of damage to properties thought to be safe from flooding. The company are said to be disappointed that the report focused on their problems rather than promoting co-operation in overcoming climate change and the flooding risk it poses to Hull.

Source: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/humber/7104996.stm (November 21st 07)

‘Tidal surge sweeps past east coast of England – and surfers catch a wave’

The biggest tidal surge in over 50 years threatened the coastline of East Anglia, along the east coast of England, leading to severe flood risks. Up to 7500 people were evacuated from their homes after the Environment Agency gave warning of “extreme danger to life and property” in coastal areas of Norfolk and Suffolk. Water levels reached their highest, 2.75m, between 7am and 8am, although the prediction had estimated a peak of 30cm higher. There were no injuries or deaths, unlike a similar event in 1953 in which 300 people died. There wasn’t even any flooding to properties reported. However, hundreds faced upheaval and uncertainty, and the temporary housing in local schools and other public buildings left many with inadequate shelter and food. Many schools were closed for the day and roads and rail links were shut. Officials said there had been no reports of flood defences being broken although there had been some flooding of coastal roads because of the height of the waves.

‘Temporary flood barriers were fitted during the night around an electricity substation in Great Yarmouth to protect power supplies’ and the Dartford Creek and Thames barriers were closed to prevent widespread flooding. Gordon Brown said the Government was standing ready to help any local communities affected by the tidal surge – “Our first priority is to ensure people are safe, and that’s why over the course of yesterday and throughout the night we have been bringing in the helicopters, the sandbags, the preparations that are absolutely necessary so that people are safe”.

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Source: http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/article2839078.ece (November 2007)

‘Disaster in Black Sea as storm sinks tanker’

A storm struck 10 ships in the Strait of Kerch, which links the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov, sinking a Russian oil tanker, the Volganeft-139 and causing widespread environmental damage in The Black Sea region. Although most of the crew were rescued, five seamen were killed and 18 are still missing. The Volganeft-139 split in two and spilled at least 1300 tonnes of oil into the water. The severe weather prevented emergency workers from collecting the oil, which authorities said was sinking to the seabed. Another storm in the area is forecast, prompting a ban on tankers docking at the Black Sea port of Novorossiisk.

The environmental destruction has been severe. Birds covered in thick oil are being recovered on the shore and biodiversity is being reduced. Vladimir Chuprov, head of the energy department at Greenpeace, told the RIA Novosti news agency: “As a result of the oil spill into the sea, heavy elements of fuel oil will settle on the seabed and cause hydrocarbons to permeate the Sea of Azov. This will lead to a shortage of oxygen in the water, and the unique fauna will suffer greatly.”

Two of the other freighters that sank were carrying around 6500 tonnes of sulphur, the Russian emergency situations ministry said. Sergei Baranovsky, the president of the Green Cross environmental group, said sulphur could potentially be more hazardous to the environment than the oil.

Source: http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2007/nov/12/pollution.russia?gusrc=rss (Nov 12^th 2007)

‘Tidal surge sweeps past east coast of England’

The biggest tidal surge in over 50 years threatened the coastline of East Anglia, along the east coast of England, leading to severe flood risks. Up to 7500 people were evacuated from their homes after the Environment Agency gave warning of “extreme danger to life and property” in coastal areas of Norfolk and Suffolk. Water levels reached their highest, 2.75m, between 7am and 8am, although the prediction had estimated a peak of 30cm higher. There were no injuries or deaths, unlike a similar event in 1953 in which 300 people died. There wasn’t even any flooding to properties reported and some people even took advantage of the wave and spent the day surfing. However, hundreds faced upheaval and uncertainty, and the temporary housing in local schools and other public buildings left many with inadequate shelter and food. Many schools were closed for the day and roads and rail links were shut. Officials said there had been no reports of flood defences being broken although there had been some flooding of coastal roads because of the height of the waves.

‘Temporary flood barriers were fitted during the night around an electricity substation in Great Yarmouth to protect power supplies’ and the Dartford Creek and Thames barriers were closed to prevent widespread flooding. Gordon Brown said the Government was standing ready to help any local communities affected by the tidal surge – “Our first priority is to ensure people are safe, and that’s why over the course of yesterday and throughout the night we have been bringing in the helicopters, the sandbags, the preparations that are absolutely necessary so that people are safe”.

Related links

Q&A: flood insurance

Thousands evacuate ahead of storm surge

Pictures: UK floods

Source: http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/article2839078.ece (November 9, 2007)

‘Dubai faces higher utility bills as costs and demand escalate’

The Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (Dewa) has estimated that Dubai will need to spend £9 billion over the next five years to keep its lights on and fresh water flowing. Rapidly increasing demand for utilities and increased costs in the city-state mean businesses and households in Dubai face this price increase, the first utility bill increase for a decade. Dubai’s has an expected 10 per cent annual population growth, which will put pressure on already limited resources. According to a prospectus released by Dewa, demand for power and water will increase by 20 per cent a year in Dubai, which will cause shortages unless action is taken now to prevent such problems. Dewa want to raise tariffs to meet the cost of more expensive natural gas, fuel oil and water. The prospectus states: “Dewa is seeking government approval for an increase in electricity and water tariffs in the future across all customers as a whole.” Such price increases have been met with public opposition even though the costs are generally far lower than they are in Britain and Europe.

Source: http://business.timesonline.co.uk/tol/business/industry_sectors/utilities/article2813874.eceNovember 6^th 2007

‘Fight for water puts fish in peril’

A seven year study has shown that nearly 40 per cent of freshwater fish in Britain and Europe face extinction and during the research 12 species have become extinct. The research, carried out with the World Conservation Union (IUCN) was carried out by Maurice Kottelat, a former president of the European Ichthyological Society, and Jörg Freyhof, of the Leibniz Institute of Freshwater Ecology in Germany. The survey found that out of the 58 freshwater species found in Britain, 22 are under threat of extinction, including the golden charr and gwyniad. Species described as ’critically endangered’ include jarabugos in Spain and Portugal, and gizani in Greece. The study also looked at eels, which are categorised as ‘critically endangered’ after their numbers have decreased by about 95% since 1980.

Changes in water temperature, volume and composition, partly due to climate change and human activity. ‘Freshwater fish stocks across Europe have plummeted primarily because so much water has been diverted for human use, leaving many rivers and streams dry for much of the year. Pollution, overfishing and the introduction of alien species and diseases wreaked further havoc on fish populations over the past century’.

The researchers were shocked at just how dire the situation seemed to be. William Darwell of the (IUCN) claims “The freshwater ecosystem is probably more threatened than any of the others” and that action must be taken immediately before the effects are irreversible. They think fish should be valued as an ecological asset rather than an economic or agricultural crop.

 

 Source http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/article2789667.ece (November 2nd 2007)