SEVERN Trent chiefs have warned of water pressure issues as they fight to manage extraordinary demand during the hottest June for 40 years.
The company has advised people to shower rather than have a bath, not to wash the car and deactivate garden sprinklers.
It says customers are using millions of litres more water every single day as they enjoy the sun and high temperatures.
With the hot weather set to continue, the company is asking customers to use water carefully, to help avoid any issues with pressures dropping during peak demand in the mornings and evenings.
Water efficiency manager Doug Clarke said: “Demand for water is massively up thanks to several weeks of extremely hot weather. While we have lots of water available and our reservoir levels are healthy and we’re putting millions of extra litres of water into the system, people are using water as fast as we can treat and pump it into supply.
“This is particularly the case during peak demand in the morning and evenings when we want to ask customers to restrict their supply so we can avoid areas of low pressure.
“We know how tempting it is to fill the paddling pool up, or get the sprinkler going, but to put things into perspective, a sprinkler can use as much as 1,000 litres of drinking water in just one hour.
“We urge everyone to play their part and be extra careful with their water, especially during peak times.”
Severn Trent – the company in control of waterflow in the area – has confirmed that it has plenty of water stored and reservoir levels are healthy.
But water however needs to be filtered through its treatment works before being pumped into supply.
It says as fast as it is being produced and put into supply, it is being used by customers which can cause isolated areas of low pressure for people.
Severn Trent are specifically asking people to:
1. Put garden sprinklers away – a sprinkler can use as much as 1,000 litres of drinking water in just one hour – which is more water than a family of four would normally use in a whole day
2. Take a shower rather than a bath – It uses 40 litres less water and it’s quicker, which means people can get back out and enjoy the sunshine
3. Avoid washing cars, but if necessary, use a bucket and sponge rather than a hose. Cleaning a car for 30 minutes with a bucket instead of a hose can use 50 times less water
