IP: Y2K over dinner -- and water companies: all wet?

[Dave Farber <farber@cis.upenn.edu>]

\
From: Declan McCullagh <declan@well.com>
\

So I just got back from a black tie dinner hosted by the Media Institute, a
think tank devoted to the First Amendment, journalism, and a deregulated
telecom industry. Lots of your usual DC telecom types including lots of
folks on this list; the master of ceremonies was former FCC chairman Dick
Wiley.

(Hey, at least the food was good.)

I sat at the table of one of DC's larger law firms (which will remain
anonymous for purposes of this writeup), and it was odd how quickly the
conversation turned to Y2K. After one attorney was lamenting how quickly
his kids were growing up, another shot back: "you're feeding 'em too much."
A third lawyer jumped in: "That won't be a problem after Y2K."

Then they started talking about what happens if the power goes out,
contingency planning, etc. Even guns. Not what you'd expect from your usual
DC lawyer types -- and a level of concern that just plain didn't exist half
a year ago.

-Declan

********

http://www.thisislondon.co.uk:80/dynamic/news/business_story.html?in_review_
id=86299

Water firms 'run risk of millennium chaos'

    by JONATHAN PRYNN

    BRITAIN'S biggest water companies are leaving it
    dangerously late to prepare their computer systems for the
    millennium, risking dry taps and sewage flooding on the
    first morning of the 21st century. 

[...]

    Bad New Year weather would make things far worse
    because a freeze and thaw dramatically increases leakage,
    making it even more difficult to meet demand if systems
    fail, the review says. 

    The report was commissioned in July by water regulator
    Ian Byatt and quietly deposited in the library of his Ofwat
    offices in Birmingham. 

[...]

    It reveals in detail how companies are planning for a
    nightmare scenario on the eve of the new millennium. At
    least one is stocking up on bottled emergency water
    supplies. Most have standby generators with stocks of
    diesel fuel sufficient to keep them running for periods
    ranging from eight hours to 30 days if electricity supplies
    fail. Some have plans for "semi-manual" plant operation
    with extra plant and chemical stocks. 

    A minority of water companies have already cancelled
    leave for all staff over the New Year period next year
    while 12 will have staff on site at all major plants and
    stations. The other companies have yet to decide "but
    generally intend to have sufficient manpower available". 

[...]


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