June 29, 2005

LIVE LIKE NEW ENGLANDERS, SMELL LIKE FRENCHMEN:

Think before you flush - mayor's latest message to Londoners (Hugh Muir, June 29, 2005, The Guardian)

In this era of energy austerity, the mayor said responsible citizens will also eschew the wasteful tendency to bathe and will instead take showers, but that even then they will be expected to show moderation. People addicted to power showers will be expected to consider how this appears amid a climate of denial, as will those who brush their teeth or wash vegetables under streams of running water, or run the washing machine half full.

The mayor will also seek legal powers to make the capital more energy efficient. On Friday, when he meets the environment secretary, Margaret Beckett, he will ask for legislation to empower him to impose water metering for the first time. He will also seek an immediate hosepipe ban, a ban on "incredibly wasteful" sprinklers and the introduction of a drought order, which would make it easier to impose immediate restrictions.

He said that without a change in practices and attitudes, the only way London could cope with another dry winter would be to introduce standpipes as early as next year.

Mr Livingstone said a third of London's water was flushed down the toilet. "We are asking people to consider - and obviously it is a matter of personal choice - that if all you have done is take a pee, you don't need to flush the toilet every time."

Posted by Orrin Judd at June 29, 2005 7:54 AM
Comments

Ken Livingstone once again illustrates that one manifestation of mental illness is poor personal hygiene.

Posted by: bart at June 29, 2005 10:14 AM

I hate that whole philosophy of "If it's brown flush it down, if it's yellow let it mellow, dude." Ever looked at a toilet after a day's worth of people have been "letting it mellow?" Nasty! Sometimes I flush twice just to be ornery. I also steadfastly refuse to drink my own urine. Call me a reactionary if you must, but I just can't follow the modern environmental movement that way.

And, wait a minute, how is England having a water shortage? Isn't that like a drought in Eugene, OR?

Posted by: Governor Breck at June 29, 2005 10:15 AM

bart:

Which explains France.

Posted by: oj at June 29, 2005 11:21 AM

Don't showers waste more water than baths?

Posted by: Sandy P at June 29, 2005 11:24 AM

This is a joke, right?

Sandy: Next time you take a shower, plug the drain beforehand. When you're done the water will probably only be up to your ankles...

Posted by: b at June 29, 2005 11:57 AM

the u.k. has water distribution issues; they get too much rain in the north and not enough in the south. why they don't build a canal or something to balance things out is beyond me.

ken livingstone is a symptom of modern day england's deep set problems. socialism is a tough drug to give up, once hooked.

Posted by: cjm at June 29, 2005 12:37 PM

Just the other day there was an article here on Polish wolves invading Germany that mentioned in passing the little known fact that sewage systems are designed for certain water flows. If there's not enough flushing, the sewers will clog up, and then they just add the water necessary at the treatment plant. So like all other things Left, this is more about making everyone symbolically feel pain and be equally inconvenienced. They love increasing the chocolate ration from 15 grams to 10 grams, too.

Posted by: Raoul Ortega at June 29, 2005 12:45 PM

My wife hates it when I tell her that I am trying to save water.

Posted by: Robert Schwartz at June 29, 2005 2:22 PM

Mr. Livingston, meet Dr. Hayakawa.

Posted by: at June 30, 2005 1:52 AM

They should install in Livingston's basement one of those waste reclimation units they have on the space station, that turn pee into drinking water. Then hook it up to a public loo.

Posted by: RC at June 30, 2005 9:23 AM
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