15 June 23
Affinity Water encourages public to save water as warmer weather is likely to see increase in demand
Local water supplier, Affinity Water is urging customers to be mindful of their water use as the warmer weather approaches this week and is likely to stay over the next week.
Most of us are happy when summer arrives, but we also don’t realise it’s the most dangerous time for our local rivers and streams which is where most of your drinking and household water comes from.
Met Office Deputy Chief Meteorologist Dan Harris said:
“Temperatures will rise later this week and into the weekend, with a plume of warm air being drawn in from the south. Temperatures over the weekend could peak around 30°C in some parts of England and remain well above average during night-times.”
High temperatures mean people using more water at exactly the time when supply is at its lowest. As most of the water we use comes from our local environment, that means our local waterways are in real danger of drying up.
That’s why Affinity Water are asking you for help. They’re not saying you can’t have fun, and they’re definitely not saying that you shouldn’t be using water. But they are asking you to be mindful of your water use, and make sure you’re not wasting water.
Keith Haslett, CEO of Affinity Water says,
“The summer of 2022 was exceptionally hot and dry, substantially increasing demand for water, and we’re grateful for your support to use water wisely during this time. The weather last year resulted in below average water resource levels for the time of year. The wet autumn, winter and spring saw our resources recover, with groundwater levels now above average and well above where they were last spring. This means that it’s very unlikely that we would need to introduce a temporary use ban (or hosepipe ban) this year. Despite this, it’s important to continue saving water all year round.”
Significant increases in demand during hot weather can also cause low pressure issues in your home. Just like at home, if you’re showering and someone else is using the tap or flushes the toilet you might notice the pressure is lower. The same thing can happen on a bigger scale. So, when lots of people in your area are using water at the same time (e.g. first thing in the morning or in the evening), this can affect the pressure coming through your taps.
Affinity Water is encouraging everyone to save water by:
- Keeping cool this summer doesn’t have to cost you litres and litres of water. Save 30 litres a day by spending just 2 minutes less in the shower.
- After your summer BBQ, scrape, don’t rinse your plates before putting them in the dishwasher and save 12 litres of water.
- Step away from the hose and use a bucket and sponge to wash your car. You’ll save over 100 litres and keep cool too.
- Fill a bucket and use this water to rinse your cloth when cleaning. Rinse and refill the bucket when the water gets dirty. This will prevent water being wasted every time you open and close a tap to wet or rinse your cloth.
- Save 5 litres every week by using leftover water from the kettle to water house plants.
- Save 80 litres at a time by watering your plants with a watering can instead of a hose.
- Keep your plants cool by moving your potted plants into the shade to make sure less water is lost through evaporation.
It’s easy to save water in the garden too:
- Hang up your hose – it uses as much water in an hour as the average family of four uses in a day and a half.
- Use a water butt to collect rainwater or try a watering can instead.
- Re-use water from your bathroom and kitchen for your garden.
- Choose drought tolerant plants.
- Let your lawn grow, it will stay greener longer.
There are small changes that you can make that can have a massive impact not only on your own water supply, but for your local environment too.
Affinity Water are taking this step to make sure there’s enough water available for everyone for essential use, and to reduce the amount of water that they need to take from already stressed water sources, so that they can protect the environment.
Affinity Water are asking for your help to waste less water – a few small changes can really make a big difference. They’re asking to be more mindful and help to use water wisely - which can also save you time, money and protect our environment at the same time. It will also help reduce your energy bills, so you’ll be cutting your carbon footprint down too.
What Affinity Water are doing to prepare for the summer
- They’re continuing to work hard across their network to fix more leaks and reduce their own wastage.
- They have invested heavily in their pumps and pipes to move water around their network more efficiently and get water to where it’s needed most during high demand periods.
- They’re also making sure their storage reservoirs are at capacity before any spike in temperatures and demand hits the network.
- Affinity Water want to make sure to keep you updated before any potential issues arise – please register for ‘My Account’ here and make sure your contact details are up to date.
- They’re also working closely with super high users of water to provide them with tailored advice on how to reduce their water wastage.