Wednesday June 10 2015 Post 11 Features Comment

The 1995 drought was a serious challenge for water companies and I remember, like a lot of people probably do, seeing the tankers trundling down the M62.

Dr Gordon Mitchell, of the University of Leeds lessons of the drought TWENTY years ago much of the An Ofwat investigation at the time was terrible for Yorkshire Water but manufacturing are big users of water country was basking in a heatwave. concluded that Yorkshire Water in terms of the actual impact it wasn’t 1995 water crisis and these have tailed off, but they have The likes of Supergrass and Take had failed in its arrangements for that bad, although we did come very more than been replaced by significant That provided the soundtrack as maintaining adequate supplies of close to it having a very serious impact.” focused minds rises in consumer demand which has the nation sizzled and temperatures water. But he believes Yorkshire’s water put extra demands on water resources.” soared making Britain feel like the It was a bruising episode for the resources are now in a much stronger ■■The 1995 drought, which stretched Leakage is another issue, one that Mediterranean. company but in the intervening position. “Since then there’s been into January the following year, was has become a bugbear for many people In cinemas, Waterworld – a post- decades Yorkshire Water has invested changes in leadership and there’s been viewed as the most testing time for who see it as a needless and costly apocalyptic film set in a future where billions of pounds maintaining and a lot more investment. Water security the English water companies since waste. “People notice pipes leaking the polar ice caps have melted and It’s 20 years since the improving its water infrastructure – at has become very important and privatisation in 1989. and understandably want to see them most of the planet is underwater – was, the heart of which is a network of pipes Yorkshire Water has invested heavily in ■■Customers were advised to take plugged, but these are easy to find. The ironically, one of the blockbusters that Pennine reservoirs that means water can be moved easily its network.” showers instead of baths, repair biggest problem is the ones you can’t blistering summer. from one place to another. Twenty years ago, water companies dripping taps, wash dishes in a bowl see because these need to be traced and However, unlike the Hollywood ran dry and the threat Neil Dewis, head of service delivery were left to their own devices and instead of under a running tap, and then fixed, which is expensive.” film, water was in short supply in at Yorkshire Water, says the region made their own contingency plans, but not clean cars. Over the next 25 years Yorkshire’s large parts of the UK. Yorkshire was of water rationing is now well-placed to cope with any since 1999 they are all required to have ■■Bosses blamed low rainfall while population is expected to increase by hit particularly badly with some of the loomed. But how well water shortages. “At the moment our a detailed water resource management critics blamed leaking pipes and lack around a million people which increase county’s reservoirs resembling small reservoirs are around 92 per cent full plan which has to be updated every five of investment. the demand for water by around 140 deserts. prepared are we for and we’re in a really good position.” years. ■■Since then Yorkshire Water has million litres a day. Even today, the drought of 1995 He says the improvements mean Some water companies, including invested heavily in maintaining and But perhaps the biggest conundrum lingers long in people’s memories. another drought? they are much better equipped to cope Yorkshire Water, also have agreements improving its services. is climate change and trying to work Many of you will probably recall the with heatwaves and droughts. with neighbouring water companies ■■The company is set to invest £870m out what impact it will have in the sight of giant tankers rumbling through Chris Bond reports. “We’ve got a unique grid system that allows them to access each others maintaining and improving its clean coming decades. villages and along motorways. which was a major investment put in networks at times of emergency. water assets (reservoirs, water A study of Met Office figures for The drought, which was compared over the last 20 years and that enables Dr Mitchell says demand for water treatment works and underground central , including Yorkshire, by some with the scorching summer us to move water from our reservoirs, is rising but points out that it is coming pipes) over the next five years. revealed that the risk of hot, dry of 1976, hit supplies to 600,000 West Bradford was one of the worst- rivers and bore holes all around the from different areas. summers in the future was 13 times Yorkshire customers. hit places – the water shortage was region. “Traditional heavy industries and higher than previously thought. Towns and cities in parts of estimated as a once-in-200-years “So from our control room we’re able “Climate change is the great Yorkshire faced the prospect of cut-offs eventuality – and as the crisis deepened to look at where we need the water and unknown factor in all this,” says Dr and rationing and water engineers had there was reportedly even a proposal to through our network we can move the Mitchell. “In the past the heavens to install stand-pipes in the streets. evacuate hospitals, old people’s homes water to where it’s needed, and that have opened just in time and we’ve At the same time more than one- and businesses. investment has made a big difference.” been saved by circumstance and the third of Yorkshire Water’s treated In a bid to alleviate the problem That’s not to say that hosepipe weather. supplies were pouring into the ground Yorkshire Water mobilised a convoy bans will be a thing of the past, it just “But if we had a hot, dry summer from leaking pipes – evidence of a lack of to 700 tankers which made 3,500 means they’re less likely to happen, or followed by another hot, dry summer of investment in the ageing supply daily deliveries from east to west of certainly less likely to happen as often. with a dry winter in between then this system. the county to refill the reservoirs. The Dr Gordon Mitchell, a water could have a serious impact on parts of Appeals to conserve supplies were emergency measures cost £3m a week resource planning expert from the the country,” he says. made to customers who had seen water and were a public relations disaster school of Geography at the University “In 1976, lots of industries shut up fountaining away from burst mains and that sparked a torrent of criticism and of Leeds, believes lessons have been shop or closed their production lines running to waste. led to the resignation of the then chief learned from what happened. because there was no water. We can’t Yorkshire Water had reservoirs executive. “The 1995 drought was a serious say that will be more likely to happen elsewhere, in the east of the county, The utility was so under-prepared challenge for water companies and I again, but climate change does pose with spare water. But there were no that a spokesman famously conceded: remember, like a lot of people probably that risk.” pipelines to transfer these supplies to “Whenever rain has been forecast, it do, seeing the tankers trundling down West Yorkshire where the situation had seems to have stopped falling before the M62. changing view: Scammonden Reservoir pictured during the 1995 drought, main ■■Email: [email protected] ■■Twitter: @yorkshirepost reached crisis point. coming over the top of the Pennines.” “From a reputation point of view it image. Above, at near full capacity this year. main Picture: Robert Brook/REX_Shutterstock In the footsteps of history on Yorkshire’s Viking Coast To me the shoreline of Yorkshire will Having explored the contemporary exhibitions. Make sure better than Barmston beach. With a bit muffled calls over the dunes and always be known as The Viking Coast. that you view the Norman remains as of luck you might see Lapland buntings saltmarshes echo the wilderness of the It was here in 1066, that the Vikings, history of Yorkshire’s well as the Tudor house. or shorelarks too. greatest estuary in England. led by King Harald III of Norway, 3. Enjoy a seaside tradition 6. Hire a rowing boat 9. Walk in ancient footsteps arrived, defeating the Saxon forces clifftops and seaside towns The best place to enjoy traditional Take to the water to explore Hornsea From seafront, head at the Battle of Fulford and changing for his latest book, fish and chips today, undoubtedly, is Mere and in later summer watch for north along Sewerby Cliffs to Danes the course of English history forever. sitting on Bridlington Harbour. Fish little gulls on the wooden fence-posts Dyke and walk in the footsteps of our Within a fortnight, the tables had Ian D Rotherham out of a newspaper wrap may be a thing along the shoreline, and black terns prehistoric forebears. turned and the Vikings. who had reveals his top 10 coastal of the past, but sat on the harbour wall skimming low over the water. 10. Discover a hidden gem arrived in 300 longships, departed the with turnstones at your feet, it is still 7. Tour an inland lighthouse Burlington and Bridlington Priory Humber in perhaps 30 or less. highlights. damned good. Going south along the Viking coast, are a little off the tourist trail, but This is a shoreline with a unique 4. Explore the cliff-tops stop off at Withernsea to explore one both are worth a visit. The latter, with history, landscape and heritage. It’s also 1. Take in a bird’s eye view Head to Flamborough for a stroll of only a handful of inland lighthouses. its stained glass windows, imposing the most rapidly eroding in Europe. Sit 300 feet up, at the top of Bempton along the promontories, then sit below Standing at 127ft in the middle of the nave and recently restored organ is More than 50 small lakes formed after cliffs in June to enjoy the sound, the lighthouse walls, and gaze out to seaside town, the landmark building particularly impressive, the last major glaciation have been lost sight, and smell of the seabird cities the expanse of the North Sea, grey, is home to an exhibition dedicated to to agriculture, drainage and endless – a unique experience. Consider the mysterious and full of foreboding. 1950s Hollywood starlet, Kay Kendell, ■■Ian D Rotherham is a reader at erosion by the North Sea. lives of those intrepid “climmers” who 5. Unlock the landscape who grew up in the town. Sheffield Hallam University. His And yet for all that has been claimed risked all for the sake of the harvest of Built in 1086, Skipsea Castle was one 8. Get lost in the wilderness book, Yorkshire’s Viking Coast is by time, the coast from Bempton and birds eggs. of England’s key fortifications. Today, Journey to the south of published by Amberley Publishing, Flamborough to Hornsea Mere and 2. Go back in time there is not much more to see than a and east of Hull, to Head; this is priced £14.99. Spurn Head is undoubtedly one of the Take a trip to Burton Agnes Hall to very big pile of earth, but even so, it is a best experienced is a heavy autumn fog take flight: The seabirds of most dramatic and beautiful in the step right back into Tudor England, strangely evocative place. Close by, on when migrating birds descend in huge ■■Email: [email protected] Bempton Cliffs are among the highlights ■■ country. but with a glorious garden and a cold winter’s day, there are few places numbers. The seabirds and waders Twitter: @yorkshirepost of Yorkshire’s dramatic coastline.