Demand for water in Thanet has soared by 44 per cent during this month’s heatwave, says Southern Water.
The firm say customers have been using 56 million litres a day compared to 39 million litres before the sizzling weather hit.
For Southern Water as a whole, demand has touched 671.5 million litres a day – higher than peak demand in the heatwave of 2006 when the company was supplying 628 million litres a day.
Despite increased usage Southern Water says it currently has no plans to introduce a hosepipe ban and there are currently good stocks of water resources in the reservoirs and more importantly in the deep underground natural stores of water called aquifers.
Water needs to be extracted from its source, treated and pumped through a 13,700 km network before it reaches the tap. Southern Water is currently supplying 100 million more litres of water a day across the region compared with an average day in 2017 – that’s nearly eleven million watering cans full.
They are calling on customers to use water sparingly in the garden, refrain from washing cars or filling paddling pools to ensure there are sufficient supplies in the network.
Ben Earl, water efficiency manager at Southern Water, said: “Water is a precious resource and it’s important that we all do what we can to reduce wastage, come rain or shine.
“Our customers are already among the most water efficient in the country but there are simple things you can do to reduce waste – and cut your water bill.
“In the heat wave, people should be neighbourly – preserve supplies by using water butts to water plants – brown lawns recover quickly.
“Other tips include simple measures such as turning off taps when you’re brushing your teeth, swapping a bath for a four-minute shower and watering your garden with harvested rain can make a huge difference to water supply levels across the region.’
Southern Water says work to protect water resources includes an increased focus on fixing leaks on thenetwork of water mains.
During 2018 the water firm is offering one free fix on customer supply pipes between the meter and the front door. This is a £2.3 million give-away as normally customers must pay to fix pipes on their land.
For more water-saving hints and tips, visit: https://www.southernwater.co.uk/water-saving-tips-in-the-home
what a wonderful idea use water from a water butt the only trouble you need rain water to fill the butt not such a good idea