It is good to see the media and public starting to see more of the nonsense of the hosepipe ban, (sorry TUB). But it is still very frustrating that so much of the wider issues are being ignored - or perhaps stored by the media for when they have their own drought of sorts.
There is much coverage about solving the problem and in this the landscape industry needs to shout a bit more I feel. The answers, as can be seen in any country with still working ancient elements of land management, are not necessarily found by looking for a quick modern invention but by looking to the past and the ancestors of our industry.
It is the landscaping industry that has the skills within it to really help in getting water to ground. Particularly practitioners in it who have the skills to build or maintain dry stone walls, hedgerows, swales etc.,
But even the gardener has a massive role in keeping the soil surface and consolidated sub soil surfaces loose and free as a conduit for taking surface water run off downwards.
Anyway my further ranting on this can be found here:Look to the past in solving the drought, rural heritage preservation and successful tree planting
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We're way behind with sustainable drainage here. Much more should be done to encourage the use of swales, sumps and on-site drainage to take the water back down - aquifer recharge etc.
I think its largely an issue to do with money - modern and innovative solutions get grants or investments; whilst traditional skills and knowledge don't and people will always follow the money. But as the recession continues and solutions need to be increasingly adhoc I believe we will have to look at traditional landscaping techniques by default! maybe I am too optimistic but as already seen on here there is a slow increase in construction of gardens or elements within, which are new variations on the past - as people realise the real beauty and ecological value of such work the landscaper will gain increasing popularity.