There is currently no hose pipe ban in place in Essex.

Essex & Suffolk Water is doing all it can to keep water flowing for its customers as the warm and dry weather continues.

The water company, which provides drinking water services to 1.8 million people across Essex, Suffolk and parts of East London, is asking its customers to help out where they can by using water wisely and thinking about the amount they are using in the home and garden.

The company is continuing to monitor supplies closely, and has put additional resources in place to manage the increase in demand seen in recent days.

An extra 120 mega litres per day is being added to the Essex & Suffolk Water network at present on average - that's the equivalent of an Olympic-sized swimming pool every 30 minutes.

Essex & Suffolk Water has two large surface reservoirs at Hanningfield and Abberton which are used to supply water to its customers, as well as a network of rivers and groundwater sources. A £150m expansion of Abberton Reservoir was completed in 2015, increasing its capacity to 41,000 mega litres.

Martin Lunn, head of technical strategy for Essex & Suffolk Water said: "Our water resources remain healthy for this time of year, and despite the increase in demand we are not seeking to implement a hosepipe ban for our supply area.

"Although our surface reservoir and groundwater levels are where they should be, the challenge we are facing is treating the water and getting it out to customers in time to meet the increase in demand. Our people are working around the clock to ensure we can produce and deliver these increased volumes.

"We're asking customers to help us out by thinking about how they can save water around the home and garden so that supplies last as long as possible. Even small changes like not leaving taps running and not watering your lawns can make a big difference. We'd like to thank everyone for doing their bit to save water at this time."

Essex & Suffolk Water is also encouraging customers to keep an eye out for burst pipes and leaks across the region caused by the high temperatures. Warmer weather causes ground movement which can lead to burst pipes. To get these fixed as quickly possible and avoid water being wasted customers can report them on the leak line - 0800 526 337.

Customers are also being reminded to stay safe around water, as there are dangers that can kill in reservoirs, lakes, rivers, canals, open water and the sea. Reservoirs in particular are operational sites which contain machinery, strong underwater currents, varying depths and extremely cold water, which makes them unsuitable for swimming and paddling.

Top tips for saving water -

  • Water plants in the evening to retain moisture in the soil.
  • Turn off the tap when brushing your teeth and save 6 litres of water each time.
  • Shower rather than bath and save 10 litres every time.
  • Take shorter showers (aim for four minutes per day) - this can save up to 17 litres per day
  • Use full loads in your dishwasher and washing machine.
  • Use a bucket rather than a hose to wash the car.
  • Use a bowl when hand washing dishes 7 litres every time
  • Replace washers on dripping taps - they can waste up to 26 litres of water in 24 hours - that′s enough for a shower.