News

With temperatures hitting the 30s once again and after the UK saw the driest July since 1911, Severn Trent is asking people to use water wisely as demand increases to some of the highest peaks on record.   

As a result of preparation work throughout the year to remain resilient and protect water supplies, the Severn Trent network is in a good position, yet with no rain in the forecast, these extreme weather conditions could continue to increase demand. 

Sophie Evans-Young, Water Efficiency Manager at Severn Trent said: “As the glorious summer sunshine continues, there’s naturally a greater demand for water so our teams are working around the clock to keep the network in good shape.  

“Our region has experienced the driest July in a century and with no rainfall in the forecast, we’re asking people to be mindful of their water use, as small behavioural changes can add up to a big difference." 

“We’d like to thank all our customers for their continued support as the warm and dry weather continues into the summer.”   

Severn Trent hasn’t had a temporary usage ban in 27 years, and instead is actively managing its Drought Action Plan, doing everything possible to meet demand in this hot weather, whilst caring for the environment.   

Severn Trent is pumping an extra hundred million litres of water into the network every day, while the number of tankers in the fleet has been doubled so water can be moved into supply more quickly than ever before.  Expert engineers are also fixing around 3,000 leaks a month, which can be caused by pipes bursting as a result of the ground drying up and moving due to the hot weather. 

To enjoy the warm weather, Severn Trent is also reminding people it runs great value visitor sites around the region that can be enjoyed by families for a great day out. 

Dan Taberner, Operations Manager for Visitor Sites at Severn Trent, said: “It’s always fantastic to see people enjoying our wonderful sites and we really want to encourage people to use all the facilities on offer including play areas and lovely walks around the reservoirs and surrounding areas. 

“We also realise that on a hot day, a large body of water such as a reservoir can look like a tempting option to cool off, but there are hidden dangers under the surface including pumping machinery, and even on a hot day, the water will be extremely cold that can lead to even the strongest swimmers getting into trouble.  So, we’d like to encourage people come and have a great day out but ask them to please stay out of the water.” 

Did you know? 

• A leaking loo could increase water usage by 20% - wasting money and water.  Check to see if you have a leaky loo – we’ve got free dye tablets available here.  
• 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!  
• 22,500 free water efficiency products have been ordered by Severn customers this summer. If all of these products ordered are fitted and used, we could see a saving of 182,500 litres!  

Tips for a water efficient home  

• Keep a jug of water in the fridge to enjoy nice cold water when you want it, rather than running the tap until it’s cold  
• Ask children to water the plants with leftover water from their paddling pool – a fun activity to keep them entertained whilst also saving money and water   
• Wait until the dishwasher or washing machine is full before using it  

ENDS  

Notes to Editors   
More information on water saving can be found by visiting https://www.stwater.co.uk/wonderful-on-tap/save-water/saving-water-made-simple/  
Anyone who spots a leak while they’re out and about, can report it using the on-line form at http://stwater.co.uk/reportaleak or by calling our Leakline on 0800 783 4444. And now you can even FaceTime an engineer or send us a video to show us exactly where the leak is and how bad it is.   
Severn Trent is the UK’s second biggest water company.  It serves 4.8m homes and business customers in England and Wales. Its region stretches from mid-Wales to Rutland and from north and mid-Wales south to the Bristol Channel and east to the Humber. The company delivers almost two billion litres of water every day through 50,000km of pipes. A further 93,000km of sewer pipes take wastewater away to more than 1,000 sewage treatment works.