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Unrepaired leak |
Bore-hole plan to keep Regent's Park green
Thames Water admits leaks are 'unacceptably high'
WATER collected in a vast natural underground reservoir could
be the answer to keeping Regent’s Park green if dry spells
persist.
The Royal Parks Agency wants to drill a 130-metre hole in the
north side the park to draw water up from subterranean aquifers
to avoid using up Thames Water supplies.
Details of the plans come after Thames Water admitted to the
New Journal yesterday (Wednesday) that leaks from pipes under
the streets of Camden are “unacceptably high”.
The CNJ asked Thames water – which has just introduced
a hose pipe ban – for details of leaks after a hole outside
the New Journal offices in Camden Road stayed unrepaired for
several weeks (see picture). It was reported to the company
on March 3 but workmen only turned up to repair it yesterday
(Wednesday). Reporters had also been contacted over unrepaired
leaks in Prince of Wales Road and Haverstock Hill.
At first a Thames Water spokesman said they did not keep records
of how long leaks went unrepaired. He also said the hole in
Camden Road was rising ground water. A workman, however, confirmed
it was a burst pipe.
Under questioning however, the Thames spokesman said: “We
accept the number of burst pipes are unacceptably high, but,
as with the Camden Road leak, it is not always easy to find
the source. We fixed the pipe but it may have meant pressure
built up elsewhere and burst again.”
The spokesman admitted the company lost 915 million litres every
day.
Thames has replaced 42 miles of Victorian cast iron pipes in
Camden since 2002 and plan to do around 100 major pipe laying
works in 2006.
The spokesman added that leaking pipes were a small problem
compared to global warming.
Green Party candidate Sian Berry, who is standing for election
in May in Kentish Town, said she wanted to see the Town Hall
use its powers to fine the water company.
A spokesman from the Royal Parks said about its bore hole plan:
“It is part of our water conservation strategy and we are
always looking for new ways to avoid using mains water.
“We had planned to do this for some time and it will certainly
mean there will be a resource of water if droughts persist.”
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