In response to Travis' comment, radiators are the norm in UK except in some high-rise buildings when electric driven air (conditioning)is circulated via ducting, but mostly in business premises.
The individual radiators are controlled by manual thermostatic valves so each room temperature can be adjusted to suit. It may seem an ancient form of control to you especially as there is no air cooling facility, but the advantage is that towel rails are also heated in this manner, and as can be seen from the header, the radiators themselves can be made to look attactive as well as functional.
The boilers are powered by natural gas, which is a lot less expensive than electricity over here. We do have a few rooms fitted with overhead fans for cooling on the few days that temperatures are uncomfortable,but the heating can be on for up to 7 months in the year.

Excuse my ignorance on the subject but where does it drain into?
Its been unusually wet over here (in Soggy Scotland) this year so I may have answered my own question.
Perhaps there is a subterranean continent which has also experienced the worst flooding in memory.
Could'nt you Americans with all your technology send a probe, with camera to investigate?