Wednesday, 22 December, 1999, 12:17 GMT

Water firm's sewage 'blowback' fear

Water chiefs in the north of Scotland have hired a fleet of emergency generators to make sure raw sewage does not "blowback" because of the millennium bug.

There are fears the bug could cause a temporary shutdown of pumping stations, forcing sewage back up the pipes from which it flowed down.

The North of Scotland Water Authority has hired a number of standby generators to ensure this does not happen.

A NoSWA spokesman said: "For more than two years a large number of staff have worked steadily and methodically to root out any problems associated with the millennium bug in order that our customers can enjoy continued service during and beyond the millennium rollover.

Bug 'stamped on'

"The supply of back-up generators to sewage and water-pumping installations is just one of many measures we are taking to make sure the millennium bug is stamped on before it has a chance to do any damage.

"Services to our customers over the millennium holiday period will remain business as usual."

The generators are being supplied by a Dundee-based firm which has also come to the aid of Lothian Health Care, Tesco and Marks and Spencer.

Kolfar Plant spokesman George Fyfe said: "Orders for stand-by generators to cover the millennium period are still coming in."

A team of experts has searched every area of NoSWA to identify areas which might be at risk from the bug.

The team has looked at 1200 sites and 4200 pieces of equipment.

NoSWA's Millennium Bug customer helpline can be reached on 0808 100 5333

-- Old Git (anon@spamproblems.com), December 23, 1999

Answers

oh sh_t!!!!!!!!!!

-- whogives-a-rats@ss.com (zigwood99@aol.com), December 23, 1999.

oh sh_t!!!!!!!!!!Blowbacks

-- whogives-a-rats@ss.com (zigwood99@aol.com), December 23, 1999.

I dont care, cuz I dont live in scotland.

-- ed (edrider007@aol.com), December 23, 1999.

aaaiiiiieeeee

-- kaboom (run@$#!+.geyser), December 23, 1999.

You are not worried because only Scotland has shit?

What is your local sewer plant doing?

-- David Holladay (davidh@brailleplanet.org), December 23, 1999.

It's OK, Scotland's a backwards hick country. I mean, all they invented was colour photography, pnuematic tyres, the vacuum cleaner, thermos flasks, anaesthesia, the steam engine, the telephone and television.

Do you have a source for this article, Old Git? Thanks!

-- Servant (public_service@yahoo.com), December 23, 1999.

I like the part where they "rooted out" the problem.

-- Gary S. (garys_2k@yahoo.com), December 23, 1999.

Servant, I've quit posting the URL for Electronic Telegraph articles because you have to subscribe to the paper. It's free, but I know a lot of people don't like to fill out subscription forms. (They've never bothered me with spam, far as I know.) There's an excellent search engine at the site--click on "Search" at the bottom of the page. Don't use the Search box; it's only for the section on that page on that day. Here's the url for subscribing:

http://www.telegraph.co.uk

-- Old Git (anon@spamproblems.com), December 23, 1999.

'sewage blowback' - a new way of saying TSHTF?

-- Risteard Mac Thomais (uachtaran@ireland.com), December 23, 1999.

My only wish for the new year is the ability to flush. A modest request, right? I don't care about electricity. I'd like to use the telephone, but don't insist. Water would be great, but I have bottled. PLEASE, please, just let me FLUSH!!!!!

-- Mara (MaraWayne@aol.com), December 23, 1999.

With the methane gasses building up BLOWBACK it will.

-- kaboom (run@$#!+.geyser), December 23, 1999.