With high temperatures hitting our shores for the last few weeks and sunny weather set to continue this week and beyond, Southern Water has released their advice for reducing water usage and how best to stay hydrated during this dry spell.
When warm weather hits, demand for water soars by as much as 70 per cent, compared to cooler times. Southern Water have been supplying an extra 87 million litres of water a day overall, compared with the week period before the hot weather started in late June.
While we are not in drought conditions and Southern Water have water for people’s everyday use, they have issued advice to help their customers use less water, as well as how to keep cool and stay hydrated.
Easy ways to save water
“We are calling on customers to be water efficient in the garden, as well as refraining from washing cars or filling paddling pools, all to help maximise available supplies,” Joel Hufford, Stakeholder Engagement Manager for Sussex explains.
“Our customers are already among the most water efficient in the country, but there are simple things that everyone can do to reduce waste and cut their water bill. A wide range of practical advice and support is available on our website at https://www.southernwater.co.
Their top water-saving tips include the following:
- Turn off taps when you’re brushing your teeth.
- Swap a bath for a four-minute shower.
- Water your garden plants with a watering can, not a hose-pipe, in the morning or evening, when it’s cooler and the water won’t evaporate quickly in the heat.
All of the above actions and other small changes can make a huge difference to water supply levels across our region.
Take care to stay hydrated
“It’s also important during the hot weather to stay healthy and hydrated,” Sussex’s Stakeholder Engagement Manager continues. “Keep your re-usable water bottle topped up, placing a jug of tap water in the fridge to give you a readily-available chilled supply, so you can stay refreshed and water efficient.”
Southern Water’s work to protect water resources includes an increased focus on fixing leaks on their 13,700-kilometre network of water mains. During 2018, they are also offering one free fix on household customer supply pipe leaks which are located between the property’s water meter and front door. This is a £2.3 million ‘give away’, as normally customers must pay to fix pipes on their land. Find out more about this here.