Water level low

[Steve Manc]

February 2024 CRT Reservoir Watch report shows the reservoirs supplying the Shropshire Canal and Staffs and Worcester Canal are at an historic low. They have dropped 33% in one month. Considering the amount of rain the country has had I am guessing CRT have emptied a reservoir.

 

I hope this doesn't impact on the summer cruising period 😞

 

Is anyone aware of any issues?

 

https://canalrivertrust.org.uk/specialist-teams/managing-our-water/reservoir-watch

[Tracy D'arth]

The good folk of Wolverhampton keep the canals full.

[David Mack]

The footnote to the report indicates that several reservoirs are being held at lower levels for engineering reasons. The big drop in the Shroppie/S&W group took place between December and January (although no reason is given in the January report), and the level rose by 3.6% from January to February. Since this section receives water throughout the year from Wolverhampton's sewage treatment works and from the BCN via the Wolverhampton flight, I suspect the low holding is of less concern than it might be elsewhere.

The latest report gives the position at mid February, so the March report will be out soon, and will give a better picture of the water supply available at the beginning of the 'boating season'.

[Steve Manc]

Dave: I should have read the notes below in the report 😔

 

Thankfully the summer cruising will not be effected 😎

[cuthound]

1 hour ago, Tracy D'arth said:

The good folk of Wolverhampton keep the canals full.

 

Indeed, you used to find locks piled high with detergent foam.

 

Given the water companies recent practices, I wonder if the foam will make a return?

[Ex Brummie]

Did it ever go away?

[MtB]

I was only thinking earlier that it hasn't rained today so far, so stand by for low wter level warnings and a hosepipe ban. 

 

In fact did the hosepipe ban from last year ever get lifted? 

[ditchcrawler]

12 minutes ago, MtB said:

I was only thinking earlier that it hasn't rained today so far, so stand by for low wter level warnings and a hosepipe ban. 

 

In fact did the hosepipe ban from last year ever get lifted? 

 

12 minutes ago, MtB said:

I was only thinking earlier that it hasn't rained today so far, so stand by for low wter level warnings and a hosepipe ban. 

 

In fact did the hosepipe ban from last year ever get lifted? 

 

[Dorlan]

8 hours ago, cuthound said:

 

Indeed, you used to find locks piled high with detergent foam.

 

Given the water companies recent practices, I wonder if the foam will make a return?

Wightwick Mill Lock c. 1980 

The foam didn't smell very nice!

[ditchcrawler]

Bosley Locks

 

[Francis Herne]

2 hours ago, Ex Brummie said:

Did it ever go away?

Nope, still very much in evidence at Wheaton Aston last year.

 

With the recent heavy rain, the colour and smell at the moment are quite interesting...

 

CRT had to lower the level at Rotton Park quite a bit in January (IIRC) due to a problem with the spillway. I'm surprised that doesn't show up in the BCN numbers.

[Steve Manc]

I didn't know the water companies dump untreated water into the canals

[Francis Herne]

Barnhurst outflow onto the S&W and SU is supposed to be treated.

 

The 2022 data, latest available, says only a few hours of untreated storm overflow over the year but having seen it I'm pretty skeptical.

 

I don't think the normal treatment process can remove all the detergent anyway.

[Stroudwater1]

I could be wrong but was told that the foamburgs were mostly a result of non biodegradable/ older detergents from the good folk of Wolverhampton. Their use was almost ubiquitous till the early 60s and fairly common till the 80s?  

There could be more non bio flowing in at certain times now. It’s a complicated subject and old soaps such as Sunlight used as washing up too are very different to today’s stuff. Modern non bio possibly degrades faster than the older detergents too. 
 

@davidwheelerhas some splendid 1950s foamburg pictures . I’ve seen  cine footage of a boat  emerging from below a huge foamburg at one of the S&W locks in 1959. The foam  occupied almost the whole of the bridgehole below one of the deeper locks.