Lowering GU levels today

BRITISH Waterways is today (Wednesday) lowering water levels on the five miles section of the Tring summit of the Grand Union Canal 'to save water in advance of the main boating season'.

We are told it will be reduced by 12 inches, but from the photographs from Howard Clarke, taken yesterday, it will be seen that it is already down by around this amount, and the boats, that should have been removed, are still there.  Howard asks about the fish stocks, as the 'water dribbles away'.

Prone to leaks

The reduction of the level is being undertaken as British Waterways admits the upper section of the banks 'is often most prone to leaks', and lack of rainfall and low reservoir levels means that should no action be taken, the reservoir levels will be drained even lower, with Jeff Whyatt, Senior Waterway Manager explaining:

"The top part of the canal bank is often most susceptible to leaks due to the fact that it is continually wetted and dried and it is also subject to holes or cracks formed by burrowing animals and wave action from boat props.

"At the time of year when boat movements are at their lowest it has become clear that the majority of the water being pumped into the system is subsequently being lost so, by taking this action now, we hope to be better able to conserve water and be less reliant on our groundwater pumps which can then be used later in the year."

As previously stated in narrowboatworld the reduced level will not allow boats to safely moor or navigate, and the section will therefore be closed to through traffic and moored boats.  There will of course be no access to or from the Aylesbury Arm.

Until March

It is expected that these measure will remain in force until March, with the Tring  summit pound remaining closed to boats, though British Waterways staff will be monitoring the situation on a weekly basis.

We are told that a short-term programme of schemes is being planned to improve the water resource position in parts of the Midlands and South East for the main boating season, though no details were given.

Leaking

Boaters have told us of the leaks on this summit section, with Emma Payne telling of one stream passing through a garden from the canal:

"I am aware that one of the houses on Marsworth Junction has a leak from the canal above passing through its garden. They have been told by British Waterway that it isn't serious enough to fix!"

"Surely closing the canal is serious enough to fix anything. I note British Waterways have done a lot of work on the Leicester Line to fix the leaking locks, maybe the lessons learnt there should be passed on."

There have also been complaints of the lack of use of the back pumping system at Marsworth Locks, with boaters asking is there no money to turn it on?