Wessex Water asks for help to reduce need for hosepipe ban
It's asking customers to use water wisely
Households across the west are being asked to continue to use water wisely and cut back on non-essential use, to avoid restrictions being introduced this Summer.
Water resources across the Wessex Water region, which covers Bath and most of Somerset, Dorset and Wiltshire, currently remain stable, with surface water reservoirs being 58 per cent full at the end of July.
However, after months of unprecedented dry weather, heatwaves and with forecasts for hot and dry conditions for a further six weeks, customers are being urged to work with the company in a concerted bid to avoid a hosepipe ban.
No restrictions have been required in the region for 50 years, but they remain an option, to protect water resources for customers, communities and the environment over the longer term.
Demand across the region has remained at more than 400 million litres for 35 consecutive days. This is more than a 30 per cent increase above average for this time of year, the equivalent of almost 4,000 hosepipes running constantly every day.
The challenge, throughout the Summer, has been moving water through the network quickly enough to meet record levels of demand. This also has an impact on water stored in service (underground) reservoirs, which normally replenish quickly.
Despite significant reductions in leakage in recent years and an increased focus this year, Wessex Water needs customers to make small, simple changes while still enjoying the summer to avoid restrictions.
These include:
Letting the lawn go brown – it will recover when the rain comes
Using a watering can instead of a hose or sprinkler could save up to 1,000 litres an hour – that’s as much as a family of four uses in two days
Reusing washing up water for patio pots and moving pots into the shade so they dry out less
Reusing paddling pool water and covering them when not in use to prevent evaporation
Keeping showers short and not leaving taps running while brushing teeth or doing the dishes
Not washing the car – be proud of having a dirty car, just keep the windscreen and number plate clean.
Director of water supply at Wessex Water, Will Willoughby, said: “We know that a hosepipe ban would not be welcome news for our customers, especially during the summer holidays. A ban is a last resort for us, and we don’t want to introduce one, but we do need customers to help.
“If all customers can make small changes to their daily water use habits, this will make a big impact and help keep water flowing for each other, businesses and the environment.
“Throughout the summer our teams have been working around the clock to find and fix more leaks on our network, prioritising those that are wasting the most water and increasing the number of repairs we complete.
“We’re also contacting larger business customers who are high water users to encourage them to avoid non-essential water use, but we need everyone to work together.
“If demand doesn’t reduce, we will need to introduce more formal restrictions to protect water supplies, which is why we’re asking customers to work with us now to help avoid this.”
For more water saving information and advice, visit: Hot weather and your water supply | Wessex Water