Water Dowsing/Divining

explicit4u · 21 Nov 2017 at 22:08

UK water firms admit using divining rods to find leaks and pipes

Ten of the 12 water companies in the UK have admitted they are still using the practice of water dowsing despite the lack of scientific evidence for its effectiveness.

The disclosure has prompted calls for the regulator to stop companies passing the cost of a discredited medieval practice on to their customers. Ofwat said any firm failing to meet its commitments to customers faced a financial penalty.

Dowsers, or water witchers, claim that their divining rods cross over when the presence of water is detected below ground. It is regarded as a pseudoscience, after numerous studies showed it was no better than chance at finding water.

Some water companies, however, insisted the practice could be as effective as modern methods.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-oxfordshire-42070719
https://www.theguardian.com/busines...t-using-divining-rods-to-find-leaks-and-pipes
https://twitter.com/sallylepage

I'm not sure what to make of this really. I've never heard of it before but a quick google makes it seem like a load of rubbish with virtually no scientific evidence to back it up.

Anyone work in the water industry and know anything about water dowsing and/or why it's still being practised by water companies today?

LabR@t · 21 Nov 2017 at 22:10

I find walling a cat in my wall keeps the TV inspectors away

Vonhelmet · 21 Nov 2017 at 22:12

It’s utter bunkum, but I’m not surprised they’re still doing it, given the abysmal state of the pipework in this country. They’re obviously not spending their time and money doing any real work.

SexyGreyFox · 21 Nov 2017 at 22:14

I remember James Randi making complete fools of several dowsers.
No proof whatsoever.

PapaLazaru · 21 Nov 2017 at 22:14

Water companies are using divining rods to find underground pipes despite there being no scientific evidence they work, an Oxford University scientist found.

So no evidence, but they are finding pipes. So they work then?

Vonhelmet · 21 Nov 2017 at 22:16

PapaLazaru said:
Water companies are using divining rods to find underground pipes despite there being no scientific evidence they work, an Oxford University scientist found.

So no evidence, but they are finding pipes. So they work then?

It’s no better than chance. I’m sure they find pipes from time to time, same as I’d probably find the odd pipe if I walked around with my willy hanging out and told you to dig a hole every time it tingles.

dowie · 21 Nov 2017 at 22:21

in other news the NHS still funds homeopathy (including a homeopathic hospital)

various major newspapers (including the guardian, the times etc..) carry a horoscope section

Chiropractors are still a thing and call themselves "Dr"

oh and in the stockmarket thread you'll find people who are way too into something called "Technical Analysis"

people are believe in stupid **** basically

(could mention something about religion too but that is a dodgy area on here)

Mynight · 21 Nov 2017 at 22:37

I don't even know anymore :confused:

.

rubberduck · 21 Nov 2017 at 22:51

Have seen this in practice and not a doubt in my mind it is 100% legit. Of course the usual OCUK armchair academics and ROFL brigade will be along to rubbish it because they watched something on the Discovery channel about it.

Diddums · 21 Nov 2017 at 22:55

rubberduck said:
Have seen this in practice and not a doubt in my mind it is 100% legit. Of course the usual OCUK armchair academics and ROFL brigade will be along to rubbish it because they watched something on the Discovery channel about it.

Yeah but you're rubberduck. People take you as seriously as Krusty the Klown.

Rids · 21 Nov 2017 at 22:59

Vonhelmet said:
It’s no better than chance. I’m sure they find pipes from time to time, same as I’d probably find the odd pipe if I walked around with my willy hanging out and told you to dig a hole every time it tingles.

Genuine laugh from me. Thumbs up.

Dis86 · 21 Nov 2017 at 23:20

suggestions welcome! said:
Yeah but you're rubberduck. People take you as seriously as Krusty the Klown.

Krusty has far more integrity than that joke.

dowie · 22 Nov 2017 at 00:00

rubberduck said:
Have seen this in practice and not a doubt in my mind it is 100% legit. Of course the usual OCUK armchair academics and ROFL brigade will be along to rubbish it because they watched something on the Discovery channel about it.

this is hilarious, first you think people dislike Mugabe because of "western media" now you think that dowsing is 100% legit and the criticism of it is coming from "armchair academics"

I wonder if there is an opportunity here for someone employ rubberneck in some sort of consultancy role, when you're really unsure of a decision on something just ask him then do the opposite

Hotwired · 22 Nov 2017 at 00:15

explicit4u said:
UK water firms admit using divining rods to find leaks and pipes

I'm not sure what to make of this really. I've never heard of it before but a quick google makes it seem like a load of rubbish with virtually no scientific evidence to back it up.

Anyone work in the water industry and know anything about water dowsing and/or why it's still being practised by water companies today?

As usual at the bottom of the page...

All the companies emphasised they do not encourage the use of divining rods nor issue them to engineers, and said modern methods such as drones and listening devices were preferred.

Mynight · 22 Nov 2017 at 00:50

rubberduck said:
Have seen this in practice and not a doubt in my mind it is 100% legit. Of course the usual OCUK armchair academics and ROFL brigade will be along to rubbish it because they watched something on the Discovery channel about it.

Not quite. I just can't think of any science that would back up sticks being attracted to water. A quick google confirms my scepticism.

If you dig enough holes you'll have to find water eventually. After the 500th hole the guy with the stick will say "told you so".

dowie · 22 Nov 2017 at 01:20

Mynight said:
Not quite. I just can't think of any science that would back up sticks being attracted to water. A quick google confirms my scepticism.

If you dig enough holes you'll have to find water eventually. After the 500th hole the guy with the stick will say "told you so".

indeed - unsurprisingly none of these clowns can actually prove their abilities when tested properly:

I don't think they're all fraudsters, it seems some of them genuinely believe in it all, they're just unfortunately fairly stupid people.

The James Randi foundation has a million dollars on offer for anyone who can demonstrate paranormal abilities (and has had it on offer for quite a few years now) sure enough no one has managed to demonstrate any abilities whether through dowsing or psychic powers etc..

Angilion · 22 Nov 2017 at 01:57

explicit4u said:
UK water firms admit using divining rods to find leaks and pipes

I'm not sure what to make of this really. I've never heard of it before but a quick google makes it seem like a load of rubbish with virtually no scientific evidence to back it up.

Anyone work in the water industry and know anything about water dowsing and/or why it's still being practised by water companies today?

According to the BBC article you linked to, they aren't. It's a non-story dressed up to make a story.

Key points from the article:

None of the water companies provide magic rods to their engineers.
None of the water companies consider magic rods part of the equipment they use.

Some of the water companies think, but do not know, that some of their engineers might use magic rods sometimes. Or maybe not. Those water companies don't regard it as important enough to forbid it. Which it isn't - at most it's a small waste of time.

Some of the water companies said that sometimes some unspecified method older than drones and satellites can work as well, although they do use drones and satellites.

Not really an issue in my opinion. It's silly and it wastes a little time. It's far less of an issue than, for example, horoscopes published in papers. That's sillier "magic" that has a much bigger adverse effect.

Skillmister · 22 Nov 2017 at 07:09

They just used one of these to find my water pipe to fit a meter http://uk.rs-online.com/web/p/produ...OF9kWEIfuJarZRNpfkwaAqK2EALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds

Didn't seem to work very well though he still ended up digging where he "assumed" the pipe would run

Hades · 22 Nov 2017 at 07:40

Fair enough if divining rods aren't used anymore. But I can't see how holding two drones in your hands and waiting for them to cross would give any better results :confused:

aardvark · 22 Nov 2017 at 12:45

rubberduck said:
Have seen this in practice and not a doubt in my mind it is 100% legit. Of course the usual OCUK armchair academics and ROFL brigade will be along to rubbish it because they watched something on the Discovery channel about it.

you must be a troll.
or you are stupid.
possibly both.