A Salutory Reminder

[Tarrel]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-23829047

Quote:California Governor Jerry Brown has declared a state of emergency for San Francisco 150 miles (220km) away as the blaze is threatening power lines that bring electricity to the city.

The city's water supplies could be affected if the blaze reaches Hetch Hetchy reservoir, which supplies San Francisco with 85% of its water. The fire is burning some four miles away from the reservoir which serves some 2.6 million customers.

Two of three hydroelectric power stations serving the city were shut down.

A reminder of how vulnerable water supplies can be in an emergency situation. I don't know about everyone else but, for me, water is the vital service that is all too easy to take for granted. I remember images of the Tewkesbury floods a few years ago, when the army had to distribute bottled water from stations set up in playing fields due to a pumping station being flooded.

So, if the water supply was cut off without notice, would you be prepared?