And still they come...

WE NOW have the Grand Union Canal Transfer.

This is behind the latest scheme to transfer water via the Grand Union Canal.

New Scheme

It telling—a vital new scheme to bring water from the Midlands to the Southeast by the Grand Union Canal and is a joint water transfer project between two water companies, Severn Trent and Affinity Water together with Canal & River Trust.

It tells—'Our water supply is under increasing pressure from population growth, more demand for water, the effects of climate change and the need to protect fragile ecosystems. The canal network has transported people and goods for two centuries; it’s busier now than ever before, with more boats, and people enjoying, visiting and living on or by the canals, and supporting waterway dependent businesses.

We now want to use it to help transfer recycled water from the Midlands to the Southeast to supply those communities who have a deficit of water'.

Reliable water supply

This scheme is key to delivering a sustainable and reliable water supply for the future and reducing our reliance on water from other sources, including unique chalk stream habitats. It will also secure future water availability for canal navigation.

Why our heading—And still they come...?

Because there were similar recent schemes on various canals in 2012, 2015, 2021, 2022, 2023 and many more under British Waterways—all coming to nought!  All those stoppages where pounds have to be cut-off to repair cills and the like, now taking many weeks and the many breaches and leaks make water transfer impossible.

The Llangollen Canal is often referred to as carrying water to Hurleston Dam but this canal runs through open countryside with no 'uphill' locks and with no large towns draining matter into it, as only too often happens with even a leak of cyanide! 

The top picture is of the Grand Union Canal empty and the lower one the Llangollen Canal with pumps having to be installed to keep the water flowing.