Drought spells tanker bonus
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by Herren Hayes • Tanker operators all over the country could benefit from the lack of rainfall during the winter if Yorkshire Water-style tankering operations are given the go-ahead in many other drought-hit regions.
A report to the Government by the National Rivers Authority (NRA) says reservoir stocks in many regions are down 50% on last year, and unless rainfall increases dramatically there will be serious problems in the summer.
Water authorities particularly affected by the shortage in rainfall are North-west, South-west and Severn Trent. Because of this, Yorkshire Water has been giving advice to these regions on how to run tankering operations. The hugely lucrative water tankering in Yorkshire saw up to 700 tankers a day working at its peak and the NRA say similar projects may have to be introduced to avoid rota cuts in water supplies.
Mark Sitton, water resources co-ordinator for the NRA says: "This time last year we were in a good situation and reservoirs were full but unless we get good rainfall in the next two months we will be in great trouble."
Ironically, Yorkshire Water has invested £100 million in a pipeline transport system that it hopes will mean never running a tankering operation again.
Network Manager Alan Kent says: "The tankering operation was a great success and we have passed on the knowledge we learnt to other water authorities.
"I can't envisage us ever running an operation on that scale again but we will still do some tankering."