Lesson 11

1.Прочитайте и переведите текст.

Water: Pay More, Use Less.

One of the hottest issues at the second international congress entitled "Water: Ecology and Technology", held in Moscow, was the economics of water resources. Moscow uses more water and its residents have grown pretty wasteful with this precious resource.

Meteorologists are forecasting a cold winter without much snow, which is bad news for the reservoirs that supply water to the capital.

If the forecast does come true, then by the end of winter Moscow could very well have a shortage of drinking water. Stanislav Khramenkov, the director of Mosvodokanal, is convinced that water supply to plants and factories and the general population will continue uninterrupted, the problem is that the less water in the reservoirs, the dirtier it is and the more complicated and expensive it is to purify it. Furthermore, unlike many other cities. Moscow is almost completely dependent on surface water sources, for almost no underground sources have been developed. The only thing that might save the day is it water is sold at what it really costs. The Moscow government is currently examining the issue of introducing a staggered water rate increase, first by 20 %, and then more. Officials have also decided to start saving water, although for now they aren't talking about putting water meters in every apartment. Instead, what they have in mind is equipping apartments, public buildings and offices with devices that would physically ration their water supply.

These devices were widely featured at an exhibition that coincided with the water economics congress. The item that drew the most interest was a ceramic tap that these gadgets will give you worry - free service for up to 20 years and that they can be attached to any tap. These devices are also cheap.

Another energy - saving idea is a regulator that fixes a certain limit on the water pressure, so that you wont be able to turn your water on full Blast.

Roskomvod (Russia's state water committee) is hoping to introduce paid water consumption as early as this year. The problem is that the biggest leaks are in the pipes and sewer systems; where wear - and -tear levels approach 50-70 percent The money is needed right now, but the city budget can't cover the costs, and investors are in no hurry to help, either, because it isn't a very profitable business - they might never see the dividends. So we, the consumers, are the city's last hope. We're the ones who will have to cough up the cash.

Vocabulary:

further more - к тому же, кроме того

issue — проблема; спорный вопрос

staggered water rate - колеблющаяся норма водопотребления

item — вопрос (на повестке заседания)

device = gadget - прибор, приспособление

to attach - прикреплять

full blast - сильная струя; полная мощность

wear and tear level - уровень износа

to cough up the cash – выложить

sewer system-канализационная система

2.Найдите английские эквиваленты данных словосочетаний:

самые спорные вопросы, расточительные жители, драгоценный источник, если предсказание не оправдается, нехватка питьевой воды, непрерывное водоснабжение, поверхностные источники воды, подземные источники, экономия воды, установка водомеров, нормирование водоснабжения, привлечь наибольший интерес, кран, который никогда не течет, дешевые приспособления, регулятор давления воды, включать воду на полную мощность, введение платного потребления воды, течь в трубах, покрывать расходы, невыгодный (доходный) бизнес.

3. Ответьте на вопросы.

1. What was one of the hottest issues of the second international congress held in Moscow?

2. Why will Moscow have a shortage of drinking water?

3. What is the problem?

4. What sources of water is Moscow dependent on?

5. What is the only thing that might save the day?

6. What issue is the Moskow government examining?

7. How have officials decided to start saving water?

8. What item drew the most interest at the exhibition?

9. What are the advantages of a ceramic tap?

10. What device is energy – saving one?

11. What is the problem of introducing paid water consumption?

12. Who will have to cough up the cash?

4.Дайте эквиваленты на английском языке.

Долина реки, все водные ресурсы, при помощи, сеть оросительных каналов, накопление воды, по обе стороны.