Accounting for water - the value of H_2O

摘要

"Water, water, everywhere, Nor any drop to drink." These lines, from Samuel Taylor Coleridge's Rime of the Ancient Mariner, written in 1798, are a good summary of the water situation in Ireland towards the end of 2009 and since the start of 2010. Back in November 2009, major flooding events in Cork, Galway and other areas throughout the country were regularly in the headlines. Thousands of businesses and houses suffered serious flooding damage, the effects of which will be felt for years to come.