Despite months of heavy rainfall, Welsh Water has chosen this week to launch its ‘Be Waterwise’ campaign to help combat the effects of climate change on water resources in Wales. ‘Be Waterwise’ marks the beginning of UK Water Efficiency Week, and the company says it wants to work with customers to ensure that Wales copes with predicted hot and dry summers - and reduce the possible need for hosepipe bans or other restrictions.

As part of the multi-media campaign Welsh Water, which is a ‘not for profit’ company with no shareholders, is providing customers with advice about using water wisely in the home and garden, as well as providing an option to buy a water butt at a £20 discount. The company says its ‘Be Waterwise’ commitment is to deal with major leaks immediately, to keep customers informed on progress with smaller leaks they have reported, and forging ahead with its £250m water mains investment by 2010, reducing the frequency of bursts and leaks.

 Welsh Water Managing Director Nigel Annett said, “Our message to customers is: use as much drinking water as you need, but please avoid wasting it.

“While Wales has long enjoyed a plentiful supply of water as a result of higher than UK average annual rainfall, experts predict that climate change will mean more hot and dry summers. In 2006 summer rainfall levels in Wales fell to less than 60 per cent of the long term average, while demand for tap water in some areas soared by up to 40 per cent during the hottest weather. Although we’ve had no restrictions such as hosepipe bans in our area for the past 17 years, we cannot be complacent. By reducing demand we can reduce the likelihood of future restrictions.

“Overall, we can only abstract around three per cent of the total rainfall that falls in our area for public water supply. That amount is determined by the size of our reservoirs, and the abstraction limits on rivers.”

Mr Annett continued, “Delivering water to customers’ taps accounts for a large proportion of Welsh Water’s annual energy bill. So, if we cut water waste it will have the added benefit of reducing the energy we use and the consequent carbon dioxide emissions believed to contribute to climate change.”

Welsh Water says that one way customers can reduce waste is to think twice before using lawn sprinklers, which can use large amounts of water. For example: · In one hour a sprinkler can use 1000 litres of water, the same as a family of four over two days. · Over a summer a sprinkler could use the equivalent of 900 baths full of water. · The energy used in supplying water to one sprinkler over a summer can be equal to leaving a vacuum cleaner or hair drier switched on for nearly 100 hours. Garden experts say that lawns and gardens can be kept healthy without sprinklers. Water harvested in butts or recycled from household use will do the job in a greener way.

Welsh Assembly Government Environment Minister Carwyn Jones is supporting the ‘Be Waterwise’ campaign. He said, “Using water more efficiently is one of the everyday activities we can all do to help manage the effects of climate change. Wales is not immune from the threat of future water shortages and we can all play an important part in conserving resources. It is in everyone’s best interest to avoid wasting water and advice is being made available on how to achieve it in the home and garden.”

 The Carbon Trust in Wales, which is working on energy efficiency measures with Welsh Water, has endorsed the water efficiency campaign. The ‘Be Waterwise’ initiative includes an ongoing media campaign, tips for a water efficient garden by National Botanic Garden of Wales senior horticulturalist Laura Davies, and information on water efficiency in the home. Welsh Water customers are being offered a discounted water butt from a leading supplier, which can harvest up to 190 litres of rainwater.