Water Conservation Gardening

Hi guys, I work for one of Britain's most successful manufacturing companies. It's growth has been phenomenal, even in recession it increased it's market share. Currently the 3rd biggest in it's sector in the world and it's sights firmly set on being the 2nd in the next ten years. Not a day goes by without people working hard. More than anything else everything is focused on our customer relationships. We don't get handed money from customers every year like water companies, we earn it. This is because we take great notice of what customers tell us.
I guess there's a mentality here that given what we have in resources, that our water companies should be looking at being world leaders too. It should listen to what the paying customer wants and focus on what is needed. We shouldn't have to put up with a second class service, if we pay first class.
We're not getting a satisfactory service, we're getting excuses 'we've had a dry spell blah blah' Balderdash! they should do their job right. I'm a customer and I'm not very happy, what are they going to do about it? Not a lot from what I can see!
About water meters.
As a water customer I don't want one. I don't know anyone that does want one. Even though I believe you can have on for free, again I don't know anyone who has chosen this option, even if it may save them money. They are unpopular and not what the customer wants. That should be enough feedback for them really. rant over

 

I agree with world leading companies being proud of their work and their company, and the great ethos that that generates. I have not done work for the water companies, but I did for BT and British Gas both before privatisation and for several years thereafter. Their work culture was dreadful, compared to the rest of corporate-land, and it didn't improve after denationalisation (same staff still employed, and thus same mentality - presumably for YEARS afterwards), and generally they had already, or did shortly afterwards, offer voluntary redundancy to slim the workforce down - so all the best people, who could most easily get jobs elsewhere, left.

I would not be surprised if the relatively-recently privatised water industry is much the same.

But I will tell you one person who wants you to have a water meter: me. Until you have one everyone else has to pay for any excess usage that you might make.

 

Hi Shiney, I can't get my lot to turn immersion heater off nevermind them to save water! I have a wife and two daughters who, in their turn reside in the bathroom!
Seriously, if it works for you I can't knock it!

 

Hi Kristen, I know exactly what you mean and you are spot on with your observations. I started work as an apprentice for Redpath Dorman Long, (they made the steelwork for the Sydney Harbour bridge) then a subsidery of British Steel. Guys just turned up for work an expected to get paid. They thought they had jobs for life and they'd never close it but they did. It was a shock to many of them who went into the real world after!

 

I want one. We're in a low rateable value property, there's just two of us, we follow water conservation basic stuff, the biggest water use is the washing machine and I'm sure our bills would be lower if we had a meter.

 

Indeed. Plenty of (say) 80-year-olds that I talk to say they can't understand the "Bonus culture" in the city. They worked for companies, enjoyed their work, took pride etc., got a salary (whether generous or not) and that was ALL they expected.

I'm all for incentive - bonus for exceeding expectations, or achieving recognisably difficult goals ... but anything else should be "salary", if it is all-but-guaranteed. Transparent then, and not open to abuse nor excessive risk taking.

Sorry: gone off on one at a slight tangent!

 

I completely agree. Reward for failure is a nonsense. But why in fact somone would actually want to *earn* several million pounds a year is beyond me. Yes, seriously. There must be a hell of a lot they miss out on.

Anyway, after this weekend if the Water companies haven't gathered enough water to end the hosepipe ban down south then they need an hosepipe shoving where the sun definitely don't shine!

 

I am sure ... certain in fact ... that a man earning 10 million pounds a year is happier than one earning 9 millions pounds a year ...

 

The secret to happiness is not getting what you want but wanting what you have got. I am certain that I am happier than some people earning 10 millions pounds a year. I am very lucky to have someone whom I love and who loves me and we both have our health, no amount of money can buy those things.

 

Blimey, that's deep! Well said!!! A lesson for us all eh? If only....

 

I think one of the most important water conservation tips is being aware of the weather. Planning your watering times in tune with Mother Nature is a surefire way to conserve water!