GUARDIAN columnist Vic Barlow should realise that running a water company in a long drought with record high temperatures is a difficult job.

It has increases in population, higher water quality and sewage regulations all with an often Victorian plumbing system.

Balancing the vociferous demands of boaters, swimmers, anglers, gardeners, car washers, environmentalists, professional twitters and yes, the occasional journo with a column to write is not easy.

United Utilities requested restrictions and applied for more lake abstraction in plenty of time, now they feel demand has dropped the restrictions are lifted.

It seems sensible to me.

Alex Scott Knutsford