South West Water is urging customers to adopt water-efficient routines as prolonged hot, dry weather continues to increase pressure on essential water supplies.
South West Water is asking customers to make small changes to their daily routines to help protect water supplies during prolonged hot, dry weather.
The company said individual actions may seem small, but collectively they can make a meaningful difference to water demand across the region.
The advice follows provisional Met Office figures showing that England and Wales recorded their driest July on record, with Southern England seeing its driest month ever recorded in a series dating back to 1836.
South West Water has published advice for customers through its water-efficient routines campaign.
Water-efficient routines can help protect supplies
South West Water is asking customers, businesses and visitors to use water with care by slightly altering everyday routines.
The company said these changes can help maintain supplies during sustained hot weather and protect the local environment.
It is also encouraging families to adopt longer-term water-efficient behaviours at home.
The advice focuses on simple actions at the start and end of the day, including turning off taps while brushing teeth, taking shorter showers, watering plants more efficiently and checking for leaks.
Customers urged to turn taps off while brushing teeth
South West Water said customers can save water by using a two-minute timer while brushing their teeth and keeping the tap turned off.
The company said a standard tap can use 10 litres per minute, meaning that leaving the tap running while brushing teeth can waste 20 litres of water.
Doing this twice a day for a year could waste nearly 15,000 litres, according to South West Water.
The company is also encouraging customers to keep a jug of water in the fridge so they do not need to leave taps running while waiting for cold water.
It said water collected while waiting for a tap to run cold, or a shower to run hot, can be reused for watering plants.
Shorter showers and full loads can reduce demand
South West Water is encouraging customers to take four-minute showers, using its shower karaoke playlist to help keep track of time.
The company said a standard showerhead uses around 12 litres per minute, so every minute cut from shower time can reduce water use.
It is also advising customers to run dishwashers and washing machines only with full loads.
Both dishwashers and washing machines can use around 40 litres of water per cycle, with older models using more.
Outdoor water use and leaks remain key areas
South West Water is advising customers to water plants with a watering can in the morning or evening, when less water is lost through evaporation.
The company said customers can also use unsalted cooking water or old water from pet bowls to water plants.
It is also urging households to check for dripping taps and leaking toilets.
A leaking toilet can waste up to 400 litres of water a day, making it one of the biggest sources of household water waste.
South West Water has published further guidance on how customers can check and fix a leaking toilet.
South West Water links water saving to climate resilience
Megan Williams, Water Efficiency Manager at South West Water, said: “Our teams have been working tirelessly to protect supplies for customers. We’ve maximised water production wherever possible, increased leak detection and repairs, moved water around our network and introduced a wide range of operational measures to make the best use of the water available.
Customers can help us protect the region’s water supplies by saving water in small, easy ways without disturbing their daily routines.
Climate change is showing us that weather patterns are going to be less predictable and put more pressure on our resources due to longer periods of warm, dry weather. That’s why it’s so important we all work together to be more water aware and build more resilience whatever the weather.”
The company’s wider Come Rain or Shine campaign also provides water-saving advice for customers during dry weather.
For more coverage of water efficiency and demand management, visit H2O Global News’ Water Management section.
Source: South West Water
