How water companies are meeting demand

As the temperature rises, so too does the demand for water. During heatwaves, like the one we are currently experiencing, water companies see the amount of water being used skyrocket – particularly during peak periods such as weekends.

This week, some water companies have seen demand rise by more than a third, with nearly 2 billion litres of extra water being used across England and Wales – that is more than 600 Olympic-size swimming pools. Or, to put it another way, enough to half fill Wembley Stadium.

Several companies have found themselves supplying the equivalent of an entire additional city in extra water. Yorkshire Water, for example, has been providing an additional 190 million litres of water a day – enough to supply Leeds and Harrogate for a day while Anglian Water is producing enough additional water for four Milton Keynes!

While this increased demand can lead to some isolated issues, with some households experiencing low pressure or supply interruptions, water companies work round the clock to ensure their customers experience no problems.  

During periods of high demand, water companies significantly increase the number of teams finding and fixing leaking and burst pipes (indeed in last year’s dry weather some fixed record numbers of leaks). In addition, water treatment works are running at maximum capacity to produce as much water as possible, and water is moved around regions to support areas with the highest demand. 

Water companies have also been contacting their customers directly with information and advice to help them reduce their water usage. Companies have stressed that water should not be restricted for essential uses - such as washing and cooking. However, non-essential use – like washing cars or filling hot tubs – could put undue strain on the system and increase the overall risk of outages.

Despite the high demand caused by the heatwave, the wider availability of water remains healthy, with reservoirs and groundwater levels generally not a cause for concern. However, it is widely accepted that the UK will have to radically increase its water storage in the face of climate change and population growth. 

The Environment Agency has predicted that by 2055 the public water supply will require an extra 5 billion litres of water every day to meet demand. To meet this challenge water companies are building 10 new reservoirs, the first is already under construction at Havant Thicket, as well as nine major water transfer schemes, water reuse schemes and desalination plants. 

With some suggesting that heatwaves like the one we are experiencing are becoming the ‘new normal’, one thing is certain - this will not be the last period of intense heat we see. Water companies are investing a record £104 billion between 2025 and 2030 to help ensure customers keep getting the water they need, even when the heat is on.