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UK heatwave: use water wisely

Date published 29 June 2018

Thanks to above average rainfall in spring this year, water levels across the UK are in a healthy position – Britain is not about to go into a drought. However, it's always good to use water wisely – especially when there are high levels of demand which can have an impact on water pressure levels.

During the current heatwave water companies are seeing extremely high levels of demand for water, with billions more litres of water being supplied across the UK due to huge spikes in demand for water at peak times during the mornings and evenings. During these peaks, water is often being used by customers as fast as it’s been put into the system. By making a few simple changes to the way they use water, customers can make sure this increase in demand doesn’t have an impact on water pressure.

Some of the most effective water saving tactics are the easiest to deploy. Take a look at our top tips below:

Take a shower instead of a bath - the average shower uses 40 litres less water than a bath.
If you'd rather take a bath, running it just one inch shallower can save 5 litres of water - twice your daily intake through drinking.
Lawns do not need constant watering - a sprinkler can use as much as 1,000 litres of clean drinking water in a single hour; more than a family of four would use in a whole day.
Turn off the tap - you can save six litres of water a minute by turning off the tap when you brush your teeth.
Check for leaks in your home - if you have a dripping tap or a leaky pipe in your house you could be dripping away money, particularly if you are on a meter.
Visit your water company's website - they will have more tips and may even offer free water saving products.

Companies are monitoring the situation closely and are taking action to manage the network. Additional leakage detection teams are being deployed across the country, and any non-essential use of water by companies is being cut back. By working together we can ensure there is enough water to go round.

Water UK Communications
0207 344 1805