Money Like Water

Description

We open with comments from Andrew Lees of Friends of the Earth who is critical of the government plans to privatise the water industry. Views of a well dressing ceremony in Derbyshire (Eco filmed in both Eyam and Foolow). Vox pops in Birmingham asking people their views on the quality and safety of tap water. Interview with Wenchie Marshall Foster who is the chief executive of Perrier UK plc. She talks about the firm’s recent acquisition of Buxton Water and the public concerns about tap water safety which have caused an rise in sales. We see views of the bottling plant for Buxton water. Shot of kitchen tap being turned on and glass filled.

Interview with Roderick Paul, the chief executive of Severn Trent Water, who admits that people do not like the taste of their water due to the chlorine used. Interview with Doctor David Wheeler of the Robens Institute at Surrey University who have been commission by Eco to carry out a public survey into water satisfaction. Interview with the environment minister Michael Howard who talks about the confusion between people not liking the taste of tap water and its safety. We then see views of the Frankley water treatment works in Birmingham where a new plant is being set up to find different ways of treating water. Chemicals are the key and Doctor Bob Breech of Severn Trent explains the use of aluminium and iron and filtration in water supplies. View of a reservoir, shot of Hatton water pumping station at Swynnerton in Staffordshire and views of the River Severn at Worcester where water is taken and then treated. Dr Bob Breech talks about the problems they face in using polluted river water. Views of treatment works for river water including the use of fish to monitor quality.

Brief shot of public spring at Buxton with Andrew Lees drinking. Lees then talks about the high levels of chemicals in tap water. Views of sampling and testing at Severn Trent’s main laboratories in Birmingham. Dr David Wheeler talks about the complaints they receive about chlorine and there are further comments about the potential use of ozone as an alternative. Nitrates from agriculture are another problem. After further exterior views of the pumping station at Swynnerton, Doctor Andrew Skinner of Severn Trent talks about the problem and there are further comments from the previous participants about who should pay to solve the problem. This is followed by interviews about acid rain causing water pollution and aluminium which can potentially cause Alzheimer’s. Finally Roderick Paul talks about privatisation and there are final shots of the well dressing ceremony (under the end credits).

Credits

Thanks to the villages of Foolow and Eyam, the Severn Trent Water Authority, Friends of the Earth, the Buxton Mineral Water Company, the Robens Institute
Commentary: James Bellini
Camera: Bob Bolt
Sound: Vaughan Roberts
Dubbing Mixer: Robin Ward
Titles: Stuart Kettle
Production Assistants: Tracy Lavis; Carole Glover
Production Secretary: Annie Clarke
Research: Roberta Rose
Film Editor: Andy Chandler
Producer: Ashley Bruce
Director: John Thornicroft

Notes

Production number 3121/88.