With England experiencing its driest spring in nearly seven decades, Essex and Suffolk Water is urging customers to go beyond Water Saving Week and make water-wise habits a permanent part of their routine.
Following a record-dry March and a parched April that brought only half the usual rainfall, the company is highlighting the growing pressure on water resources amid rising temperatures and a medium risk of summer drought.
As part of Water Saving Week, Essex and Suffolk Water is calling on households to be more mindful of high-usage activities such as filling paddling pools, using hosepipes, and watering gardens.
One of the large temporary garden pools can use up to 3,200 litres of water, while a hot tub can use up to 1,500 litres; which is the equivalent of 882 standard-sized kettles.
Using a hosepipe for one hour can use 1,000 litres of water; which is the equivalent of one-and-a-quarter bathtubs.
Customers are being offered practical tips to reduce unnecessary water waste, from shortening showers to swapping sprinklers for watering cans.
The reminder comes as forecasters predict continued warm weather and reservoir levels, though currently stable, face increasing demand.
Kieran Ingram, water director at Essex and Suffolk Water, said: “The sunshine and prolonged warm and dry weather means we have seen an increase in demand for water recently.
"Although our reservoir stocks are healthy for the time of year and we're used to managing demand, we are keen to support our customers with top tips on using water wisely.
"Try and make the most of any water you use, for example, if you’re using a paddling pool this weekend, if you’re using a standard paddling pool this weekend, you can re-use the water afterwards to wash your car or better still, providing you have not added chlorine tablets to your paddling pool, to water your plants.
"Even small changes can make a big difference, so make sure you’re doing all you can to be mindful this summer."
Essex and Suffolk Water are on track to reduce leakage by 40 per cent by 2050; but are not being complacent.
Leakage teams will be working finding and fixing leaks in the water network to help preserve as much water as possible as demand increases.
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