I must admit this is not my idea but my wife's, and I liked it so much I had to post it here (with her permission!)

We all know that Australia is a dry country, and is currently in drought. There is rain, but it never seems to fall in the catchment areas. So why not go to where the rain is? Take a fleet of large tanker type vehicles, the tops of which are designed to collect falling rain. Using on-board satelite technology, they drive to where it's raining heaviest. Following the rain clouds, the trucks fill with water then drive to the nearest resevoir, treatment plant, or bottling facility, and empty their load.
-- simonj, Jun 30 2004

We had a water shortage in Yorkshire (England) some time ago (1994). They had to use trucks to carry water from resevoirs a few miles away to those in resevoir. The motorway was jammed with trucks about 100 metres apart for two months!

Having said that, on a small scale, I do know trucks supply small villages in Greece. We once sailed into a port there and the restaurant had its water delivered by truck.

Possible baked...?
-- originalsen, Jun 30 2004


//There is rain, but it never seems to fall in the catchment areas.//
Given that catchment areas are the areas where rain falls, I think this is unlikely.
[originalsen]: That was my water you were buying. Northumbrian Water's reservoir (Kielder) was over half full at the height of the drought (coz we have fewer leaks than Yorkshire Water).
-- angel, Jun 30 2004


//I think this is unlikely//

[Angel] You calling me a liar??

[originalsen] I don't think you grasp the concept. The trucks are used to collect the rainwater, not to transport it. (well ok, they do transport the rainwater after it has fallen in the tank)
-- simonj, Jun 30 2004


[simonj]: I'm suggesting that at least one of us is misunderstanding the term "catchment area".
-- angel, Jun 30 2004


[SimonJ]...The catchment area to tank ratio is generally very large (mountain range/resevoir or house roof/garden rainwater container) so the trucks would take ages to capture the rainfall.

[Angel]...//coz we have fewer leaks than Yotkshire Water//...ah yes, but ours are prettier (Scammonden, where I used to sail) :-)
-- originalsen, Jun 30 2004



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