"The Invalid" wrote in message
...

On a slight tangent, maybe the forced imposition of standpipes might
alleviate a lot of friction on some estates?

That would simply generate bad PR for the water companies, and the
possibility of nationwide payment strikes.

Many of the water companies are already foreign owned, are heavily
diversified, have leaking pipes, and have a terrible image as it is.

This is the sort of story which could keep the likes of the Sun
and the Mail in headlines for months on end.

The idea of trying to gouge even higher prices out of people as
they queue to draw water out of standpipes in the street, simply
doesn't bear thinking about.

Possible water shortages which are probably a result of higher
per capita consumption and building programmes as much as anything,
are simply the first taste of reality that consumers are going to
have to face up to. Spiralling oil, gas, and electricity prices
won't be that far behind.

IMO, any government that wants to maintain social cohesion in such
circumstances will need to do something to dampen demand across the
board. Don't forget now, you read it here first.


michael adams