How to save water in hot weather – and why it matters
Tips and information on what you can do during warmer weather
When the weather hots up, we all use more water – to hydrate, keep plants alive, or help the kids stay cool.
This increased use can be a challenge for all water companies as daily demand goes up by hundreds of millions of litres more than usual which puts immense pressure on our supply network. It also has an affect on wildlife as some of our water supply comes from local rivers..
And drier weather means less rainfall – so less water to go around.
We’re proud to deliver a reliable water supply, whatever the weather, so to help us do that we just ask you to use water wisely during hot weather, whether that’s indoors for washing, cleaning or drinking, or outside in the garden.
Top tips for saving water in hot weather
We promote saving water all year round, but here are some extra things you can do to reduce your use in hot weather:
- Keep a jug of water in the fridge – then you won’t need to run the tap while you wait for the water to go cold.
- Avoid using hosepipes or sprinklers (which can use as much as 1,000 litres of clean water an hour) – re-use dishwater or water used to boil vegetables or pasta, and fill a watering can instead. Using a watering can could save up to 4,050 litres a year, that’s equivalent to more than 50 full bathtubs.
- Avoid non-essential chores, like washing cars and windows.
- Take a short shower instead of a bath (it uses much less water). Remember, keep it to four minutes and you could save money on your yearly bill too. In fact, one minute less in the shower saves around seven litres a day – over a year that’s around £45 on metered water bills and a further £52 on energy bills per year for a family of four.
- Leave the paddling pool in the shed and visit a local beach or open air swimming pool instead.
- Water plants before the sun comes out in the morning if you can – then it’s less likely to evaporate, and will do the most good. Watering in the evening encourages the slugs and snails to come out at night.
- Lawns don’t need constant watering, and going brown is the natural survival mechanism of grass in hot weather according to Brown Lawns are Cool by the Turfgrass Growers Association
- Check your home for dripping taps or leaks – or if you see one out and about, report a leak to us.
