Water UK, the body which represents all the UK water companies is warning that demand for water has surged due to hot weather and the Coronavirus lockdown and is urging households to use water wisely.
After the driest May since records began, the record dry weather is bringing record peaks in water demand. Households are being asked to think carefully about the water they are using to help ease demand at peak times. According to Water UK, avoiding using a garden sprinkler at peak demand time in the evening would make a big difference to water pressure.
The water companies have seen a huge rise in demand for water from households recently, particularly during the evenings. The average overall increase in water use is 20%, with some areas seeing peak demand of up to 40% above normal for this time of year. This represents a UK-wide increase of more than 2.2 billion litres per day being used.
Water use has risen due to the combination of people having to stay at home during the COVID-19 lockdown and the record dry weather, which has seen more water being used in gardens.
Water UK Chief Executive Christine McGourty said:
“It’s a great time to be out in the sunshine if you can, but this record sunny weather is bringing record peak demands for water. Just small changes through the day will make all the difference, and there are plenty more tips on staying wise about water in these unprecedented times. The less water we use at peak times, the less likely it is that water will be ‘under pressure’.”
Affinity Water, the UK’s largest water-only supplier in the UK which supplies an average 950 million litres of water each day to a population of more than 3.6 million people in the South East of England, is pumping an additional 108 million litres of water a day into the network to keep the taps flowing.
Kevin Barton, Head of External Communications at Affinity Water said:
“The increased demand puts pressure on our water network and the environment as more water needs to be pumped up. We don’t need a hosepipe ban this year due to the heavy autumn and winter rainfall, but it's always important to save water whatever the weather brings.
“ This is why we continue to provide customers with advice and practical help to save water and bring demand back down to normal levels. This will help to ease the pressure on the local environment and the water network.”
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