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UTILITY Week 21st October 2016

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UTILITY WEEK | 21ST - 27TH OCTOBER 2016 | 31 Community A load of bullion One of the most iconic pieces of modern art is Marcel Duchamp's 1917 urinal entitled "Fountain", which he tried and failed to get shown at an exhibition in New York. If it didn't exactly kick off modern art, in many people's eyes it epitomises it. It's rather fitting, then, aer all the piles of bricks, pickled sheep and unmade beds, we've come full circle back to sanitary ware. Italian artist Maurizio Cattelan has created a solid gold toilet (reputedly using $2 million-worth of gold) which is currently installed at the Guggenheim museum, fittingly enough in New York. The piece is called "America", and according to the Guggenheim's blog, is meant to represent an "extrava- gant luxury product" that draws attention to the fact 1 per cent of the world's population controls so much of the wealth. If Duchamp was asking the question: "Is my toilet art?" then Cattelan is certainly say- ing: "My art is a toilet," since it's not located in the exhibi- tion hall but in the lavatories. Visitors are "invited to use it as they would any other toilet", albeit under the watchful eye of the security guard in attend- ance to make sure that no, ahem, art lovers try to run off with a souvenir. Home comforts As if to ram home Cattelan's point that the West is awash with money while much of the rest of the world grinds away in poverty, US online retailer Posh- Tots last week unveiled its latest product line: playhouses costing up to £50k complete with run- ning water and mains power. These are not your regular playhouses, you understand – that would make the price tag obscene. No, these are basi- cally miniature versions of the parental mansion. Pictured is the New England Lodge playhouse, with optional extras that include cable TV and wi-fi. If you don't fancy a house, you can always buy your kid a replica grocery store or castle. In fact, the only thing not on the PoshTots website is a replica art museum. Which is a pity, because that would be the ideal pretext on which to buy them a solid gold toilet, and thereby demonstrate that you've got both enough money to buy modern art and the good sense not to understand it. Not-so-smart water Not everyone can afford to splash out tens of thousands on a playhouse for the kids. For those on a budget, there's always expensive bottled water, such as Coca-Cola's Glaceau, a "smart water" that comprises mineral water that is distilled to remove the minerals and then "remineralised" with the elec- trolytes found in energy drinks. However, the shock news this week was that it's all non- sense, or at least that's what the British Dietetic Association says. Consultant dietitian Rebecca McManamon said: "The bottom line is there is no benefit in demineralising water, getting rid of the minerals and adding them back in… the way this water has been processed is no better or worse for you than regular tap water." Which is kind of back to square one for Coca-Cola. Some of you may recall that the company's earlier attempt at expensive bottled water, Dasani, had to be withdrawn in 2004 when it turned out to actually be tap water. In that case, filtered tap water from the mains supply in Sidcup, Kent. Disconnector Editor, Utility Week, and content director, Utilities: Ellen Bennett, t: 01342 332084, e: ellenbennett@fav-house.com; Acting editor: Jane Gray, t: 01342 332087, e: janegray@ fav-house.com; Insights editor: Mathew Beech, t: 01342 332082, e: mathewbeech@fav-house. com; News editor: Lois Vallely, t: 01342 332080, e: loisvallely@fav-house.com; Networks correspondent: Lucinda Dann, t: 01342 332083, e: lucindadann@fav-house.com; Reporters: Saffron Johnson, t: 01342 332050, e: saffronjohnson@fav-house.com and Tom Grimwood, t: 01342 332061, e: tomgrimwood@fav-house.com; Business development manager: Richard Powell, t: 01342 332062, e: richardpowell@fav-house.com; Business development executive: Nigel Searle, t: 01342 332009, e: nigelsearle@fav-house.com; Publisher: Amanda Barnes, e: amandabarnes@ fav-house.com. General enquiries: 01342 332000; Membership enquiries: Peter Bissell, t: 01342 332507, e: peterbissell@fav-house.com. ISSN: 1356-5532. Registered as a newspaper at the Post Office. Printed by: Buxton Press, Palace Road, Buxton, Derbyshire SK17 6AE. Published by: Faversham House Ltd, Windsor Court, Wood Street, East Grinstead, West Sussex RH19 1UZ 3,580 Average circulation Jan–Dec 2015 Membership subscriptions: UK £637 per year. Overseas £749 per year. Contact Peter Bissell on: 01342 332507 Utility Week is a member of the Independent Press Standards Organisation (which regulates the UK's magazine and newspaper industry). We abide by the Editors' Code of Practice and are committed to upholding the highest standards of journalism. If you think that we have not met those standards and want to make a complaint please contact the editor, Ellen Bennett, at ellenbennett@fav-house.com. If we are unable to resolve your complaint, or if you would like more information about IPSO or the Editors' Code, contact IPSO on 0300 123 2220 or visit www.ipso.co.uk Anglian Water @AnglianWater Please don't flush wet wipes down your toilet! #ThingsISayPrettyOften CCWater @WaterWatchdog About two-thirds of business customers told us they were satisfied with the value for money of their water and sewerage services Sentridge Control @Sentridge Another read of the @UtilityWeek. Great to see our friends at @stwater begin their big project in Newark-on-Trent this month Royal Soc. Chemistry @RoySocChem The world's first commercial nuclear power plant, #CalderHall, began operations in the UK #OnThisDay in 1956. Mathew Beech @beechams1042 Clive Anderson at the @WoodlandTrust #snp16 event: ancient woodland faces ex- tinction, just like the @scottishlabour party... William Marchant @richonlyinname The energy crisis deepens as we face brown(cow)outs. Government must act quickly to introduce a cowpacity mechanism. Paul Bassett Davies @thewritertype Hope everyone got through the week without being attacked by a clown, trapped by a gorilla, groped by a Trump, or hit by a falling pound. Wil Barber @wilbarber Retweeted George Eaton: @alanwhiteheadmp back on the Energy & Climate Change brief. Great news for the low carbon economy! WaterNetwork @WaterNetwork1 Scientists from @CUBoulder managed to turn #beer waste into batteries Paul Massara @paulmassara Retweeted Richard Ashwell: Important part to play in decarbonising heat. There is no silver bullet for heat. Top Tweets

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