Latest news with #waterissues
Daily Mail
3 days ago
- Business
- Daily Mail
EXCLUSIVE US billionaire dubbed 'the most powerful man on Wall Street' denies neighbours' claims he's plundering Wiltshire's underground water to fill his nine-million-gallon lake
A US billionaire's dream of creating a grand English country estate in the tradition of 18th Century landscape designer Capability Brown is facing a backlash from neighbours convinced he is tapping into their water supply. American financier Stephen Schwarzman bought the magnificent Conholt Park in Wiltshire – described as one of the finest shooting estates in southern England – for £82million three years ago. He has funnelled millions of pounds into transforming the 2,100-acre estate's parkland by building a huge lake that will hold more than nine million gallons of water. But The Mail on Sunday can reveal that Mr Schwarzman, dubbed the most powerful man on Wall Street, is under fire from neighbours who believe he is using a borehole to extract groundwater to fill the lake. This, they allege, could lead to water shortages at their own properties because they rely on a shared aquifer. There is also anger at plans to 'enhance' the estate's pheasant shoots, with local sources claiming Mr Schwarzman is preparing for up to 500 birds to be shot a day. 'I don't like what he is doing,' one local shooting enthusiast told the MoS. 'That's not sport.' Last night a spokesman for Mr Schwarzman, 78, the boss of Blackstone, one of the world's largest private-equity funds, denied the lake is being filled by a borehole and said the estate was instead using a 'highly sophisticated water collection system' that carries rainfall into the lake. The estate will also comply with all local regulations over the organisation of bird shoots and follow recommendations by the Game & Wildlife Conservation Trust about bird stocks, the spokesman added. Mr Schwarzman's blueprint, approved by Wiltshire council last July, involves extending the mansion's south lawn, planting hundreds of trees and creating a 'ha-ha' (a sunken fence). Sources close to the tycoon, who is worth an estimated £32 billion and is married to Christine, a lawyer, say he loves the UK and highlight how he has donated around £200 million to the University of Oxford. But his relationship with some Wiltshire neighbours became strained after his landscaping scheme began and construction lorries allegedly started thundering along the narrow roads surrounding the estate. Relations soured further when excavators completed the construction of a lake, covering three acres. Farmers and landowners became suspicious by the sight of the lake filling up with water after it was finished in early March – despite months of dry weather. The MoS understands a neighbouring country estate has written to Conholt's managers on behalf of nearby farms demanding reassurances that groundwater is not being abstracted to fill the lake. One resident claimed the lake already appeared half full, adding: 'How could it have filled that much if it's not being filled from a borehole? It's the farmers around who are so worried as these resources are not infinite.' Another long-standing resident told the MoS: 'I've built lakes in the past during my time in agriculture and I can tell you it takes a hell of a lot of water to fill one that size. In recent months we've had pretty much no proper rain. This is why people are confused and there's mistrust.' A local farmer said: 'The worry is that if the aquifer runs dry then loads of people round here are going to have nothing coming out of the tap. We've got livestock – they'll have nothing to drink.' Last night Mr Schwarzman's spokesman said the lake is only 27 per cent full and claims that a borehole was being used to fill it were 'false'. They highlighted planning documents which detail how the lake will be filled 'through rainfall and a drainage system'. The new drainage system collects rainwater from the main house, outbuildings and paved areas, which then flows downhill into the lake, the spokesman added. 'The lake was installed under full compliance with planning regulations to ensure local residents' water supply would remain unaffected. Groundwater extraction is not being used to fill the lake.' They did concede that on a very limited number of occasions water from a borehole on the estate had entered the lake. This had been when water was used to test a new drainage system or, on one occasion when a faulty valve led to leak that lasted for a weekend. The volume of water was very limited, they said. The planning documents show Mr Schwarzman wants shooting on the estate to be 'further developed and enhanced'. A spokesman for Mr Schwarzman said the estate will be used for shooting 28 days a year 'as opposed to local commercial shoots which operate more than 70 days per year'. The spokesman added: 'The new owners of Conholt Park are committed to the restoration and preservation of a landmark estate of national heritage importance. 'Every aspect of the project is advancing with the highest regard for local planning regulations and a steadfast commitment to environmental stewardship. Any suggestion to the contrary is false and misleading.'
RNZ News
7 days ago
- General
- RNZ News
Auckland stormwater specialist recognised for her mahi
Sarah Nolan knows a thing or two about the water issues facing Auckland. Sarah won the Stormwater Professional of the Year award at the recent Water New Zealand Stormwater 2025 conference. Her significant contributions to the industry, her Te Mana o te Wai advocacy, and her leadership in kaupapa Māori all impressed the judges. Sarah Nolan, a senior specialist on Auckland Council's Healthy Waters team, tells Jesse more. Sarah Nolan is a senior specialist on Auckland Council's Healthy Waters team Photo: Supplied
Arab News
28-05-2025
- Business
- Arab News
Founding nations sign Global Water Organization charter in Riyadh
RIYADH: The Global Water Organization officially launched operations from its headquarters in Riyadh on Wednesday, with founding member states signing the organization's charter. The ceremony was attended by Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan, who highlighted the importance of the GWO in tackling water issues worldwide through a holistic approach, the Saudi Press Agency reported. 'The launch of the Global Water Organization affirms Saudi Arabia's commitment to strengthening international initiatives and addressing global challenges through partnerships based on cooperation between countries and governments,' Prince Faisal said. 'The Kingdom looks forward to the organization becoming an international platform that drives sustainable solutions and supports developing nations in enhancing their water capabilities,' he said. Prince Faisal said that Saudi Arabia would provide financial and logistical support to the GWO for the next five years, emphasizing that collective action was essential to achieving shared objectives. Prince Faisal invited all countries and private-sector entities to join the organization. Minister of Environment, Water and Agriculture Abdulrahman Al-Fadley took part in the ceremony and emphasized that the signing of the Global Water Organization's charter and the launch of its operations from Riyadh reinforced shared international responsibility to preserve water resources. Al-Fadley added that the importance of the organization stemmed from water being not just a resource, but a source of economic and social development and stability worldwide. He described the organization as 'not just a platform that brings countries together, but a collective global mind working to develop and integrate the efforts of countries and organizations to address water challenges comprehensively.' 'The Global Water Organization will lead international efforts to address water-related challenges and transform traditional water management approaches. These challenges go beyond water scarcity to ensure its availability at the right time and place and recognize its impact on the economy, public health, food security and supply chains, especially in the face of climate change,' he said. He emphasized the importance of having an integrated system that covered all stages of the water cycle, adopting innovative economic models based on cost-benefit analysis, introducing new financing mechanisms, reducing reliance on government subsidies, and actively involving the private sector. The GWO's charter was signed by representatives from founding countries: Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Qatar, Spain, Senegal, Pakistan, Greece and Mauritania. The organization aims to strengthen the efforts of countries and organizations to address water challenges.
BBC News
22-05-2025
- Climate
- BBC News
Balcombe Airbnb host giving buckets for toilet flushing
A woman running an Airbnb in West Sussex says she has been giving guests buckets to flush the toilets as water supply issues to 700 customers were left without water, or with an intermittent supply, after problems during routine maintenance at a reservoir started affecting supplies on Wiltshire, who runs her Airbnb in Balcombe, said she had been warning guests about the water issues in advance of their Dean, head of operations in Sussex for South East Water, apologised to those affected and said most customers should now have water. Ms Wiltshire told BBC Radio Sussex there were some water butts at her property."I can't be flushing their loo, it's a personal thing," she said."I've been checking them in with a bucket and saying: 'This is what you do with the bucket to flush the loo'."She has also been pre-warning guests they will not be able to shower, particularly important for those who use it for a stopover for Gatwick Airport."When you come off a long-haul flight it's quite nice to have a shower," she said. 'Horror show' Ms Wiltshire said the supply seemed to have returned to her property, but that the last time she check the water company's online information, it did not say the issue was resolved."We're slightly holding our breath as to what will happen," she she added that her guests had been "incredibly nice" and that she had "bent over backwards" to help with other aspects of their stay. Conservative MP for East Grinstead and Uckfield, Mims Davies, described the situation as "a horror show".She said when the issue had occurred during maintenance at a reservoir it "took some time to realise something had gone wrong" and to work out what it criticised South East Water's communications on the issues, saying the company had not "bothered telling people what's going on". 'Most now back in supply' A South East Water spokesperson said: "We've been sending tankers to the area to inject the mains pipes with water since Friday evening and will continue to do so until the supply has returned to normal. "Most customers should now be back in supply and the water pressures in the area have stabilised as we continue to use the tankers to inject water directly into our network."The said; "Customers entitled to a compensation payment under our guaranteed standards scheme will automatically receive a credit on their water supply account. "For business customers the credit will be made by their retailer."
