This isn't good!

[Rusty]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-15791344

 

But I don't fully understand the dynamics here. How are canals topped up and where does the water come from?

[Dick Dastardly]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-15791344

 

But I don't fully understand the dynamics here. How are canals topped up and where does the water come from?

 

Normally by feeder reservoirs Rusty. All though down your way I should imagine the K&A is controlled more by river water. I cant remenber the name of the bits where its engineered so it kind of "overflows" into the canal, anyone?

[Dick Dastardly]

If you have a look here mate it shows the reservoir at Tardebigge on the Birmingham Worcester canal.It was most likely built here to top up/feed the canal due to the long flight of locks that start by it.

Edited November 21, 2011 by BUDGIE

[JV44]

Rusty the feeder lake at Crofton pumping station [high point of canal ] is spring fed and nt flowing fast enough to keep up with water used through the locks so they [bW} have padlocked the locks in the nearby bits to stop boats and therefore water use .

Scary thing is the river Kennet itself is dry at Manton near Marlbrough with a fish rescue needed a few days ago ,need a lot of rain face .

We had better get and fish Speen whilst it still ghas water face .

[Chris Plumb]

Kennet is extremely low - speaking to a Keeper on Friday last and he was saying its the lowest he's EVER seen it - in 21 years of working the river. Yes we've had a low rainfall year - but we've had lower - THE main problem is Axford - where Thames Water pump out the ground water and send it to Swindon - so its lost for ever from the system. No coincidence this is smack in the middle of where BW have now closed the canal due to low ground water - go figure! I hear that TW is 'thinking' of supplying water to Swindon from the Thames - so maybe they are starting to wake up to the problem - though I won't hold my breath!

 

C.

[Anderoo]

Same story here too. I went to have a look at the Windrush the other day, and it's such a depressing sight. I could actually stand where I've caught chub in previous years and not get wet feet. All the fish are holed up in little depressions and pools with nowhere to hide.

 

Weirdly, the Thames is at normal level, even though it's still completely static (has been since spring). A slight upstream breeze makes it flow backwards.

[chesters1]

same old story the water companies come down hard on you to save water but make a great deal of money flogging licences to abstract water to anyone with the money.

were on sand here so the ground water is a long way down but the local golf club has a borehole and they water the freeway not just the tees and holes

the local potato grower water his crop ,how can he make money selling them at a fiver a hundedweight

[Steve Walker]

Kennet is extremely low - speaking to a Keeper on Friday last and he was saying its the lowest he's EVER seen it - in 21 years of working the river. Yes we've had a low rainfall year - but we've had lower - THE main problem is Axford - where Thames Water pump out the ground water and send it to Swindon - so its lost for ever from the system. No coincidence this is smack in the middle of where BW have now closed the canal due to low ground water - go figure! I hear that TW is 'thinking' of supplying water to Swindon from the Thames - so maybe they are starting to wake up to the problem - though I won't hold my breath!

 

That's interesting - I was under the impression that Farmoor supplied Swindon from the Thames, but as you say, that isn't the case. They were granted a two year extension on their permission to pump from Axford in May this year:

 

http://www.thameswater.co.uk/cps/rde/xchg/...s.xsl/13846.htm

[JV44]

Same story here too. I went to have a look at the Windrush the other day, and it's such a depressing sight. I could actually stand where I've caught chub in previous years and not get wet feet. All the fish are holed up in little depressions and pools with nowhere to hide.

 

Weirdly, the Thames is at normal level, even though it's still completely static (has been since spring). A slight upstream breeze makes it flow backwards.

Spot on Anderoo even in a weir pool close to the steps which were a trickle at best just about got a float to run through ,We are going to need a deluge this winter or next year will be dire on the flowing stuff down south .

[Chris Plumb]

http://www.thameswater.co.uk/cps/rde/xchg/...s.xsl/13846.htm

 

 

Nice find, Steve.

 

C.