THE MET OFFICE thinks it could be some of the hottest days of the year … so far.
And with the long summer holidays here, Thames Water is encouraging Wokingham borough residents to have fun in the sun, while saving water.
The firm, which manages wastewater in the borough, said that during last year’s incredibly hot heatwave it had to pump an additional 450 million litres of water a day through its pipes to keep up with demand, which soared by around 17% on the hottest days.
Although this year’s temperatures are a few degrees lower than last year, there is still a need to conserve water where possible.
Andrew Tucker, water efficiency manager at Thames Water, said: “Increased temperatures mean increased demand for water, which stresses our network’s ability to produce it fast enough and accelerates the draw on rivers, underground aquifers, and the water stored in reservoirs.
“To make sure everyone can enjoy our most precious resource, now and in the future, we all need to work together to use less water.
“If we all make small changes, we can make sure there’s enough to go around.”
Thames Water’s top summer 2019 water-saving tips are:
- Listen to your body and if it’s hot, cool down by holding a cold wet towel on your wrists, neck, knees, insides of your elbows and the tops of your feet, rather than running water or a shower
- Fill a spray bottle with water and spritz it over your face and body for a quick cool down. This uses way less water than showering or spraying yourself and others with the hosepipe
- If you need a cool shower, try and keep it short. Showers normally make up around 25% of an average household’s water usage. Simple reductions in shower time can have a massive impact on overall usage. If a family of four reduce their showers by one minute each they’d save 11,648 litres of water a year
- Storing a jug of tap water in the fridge is a great way to keep your tap water. Alternatively, pop some ice cubes in your drink which will help lower its temperature. Both are better than leaving the tap run for ages to get some cool water
- Don’t fill paddling pools to the brim and, when kids and pets have finished playing in them, use the water to give thirsty plants a drink
- Use a watering can to water plants instead of hoses or sprinklers which use a whole week’s worth of water in just one hour
- Established lawns will bounce back as soon as it rains again so there’s no need to water them.
Mr Tucker said: “Using less water at home and reducing leakage means we can leave more for nature in our rivers and reservoirs, and give essential underground sources a chance to recover, reducing the risk of shortages in the future.”
For more water-saving tips visit www.thameswater.co.uk/be-water-smart
