Anglian Water has urged to residents in South Holland to be careful with their water usage after the driest spring on record.
The firm says it estimates it’s had to pump 200 million litres of water more to homes given the warm weather and the fact more of us are spending more time at home due to the COVID-19 outbreak.
Despite the very wet winter that saw standing water in many fields around the district, it’s been warned nationally a hose pipe ban might come into force due to the extremely dry weather we’ve expeirenced in the last few weeks.
Director of Water Services for Anglian Water, Paul Valleley said: “Since lockdown began, we have seen an increase in the demand for water as people wash their hands more, stay hydrated and use more for DIY in their homes and gardens.
“On average water use has risen by between five and ten per cent since lockdown began, but we’ve seen peaks of up to 20 percent which is unprecedented for this time of year.”
This increase equates to every customer drinking roughly an additional 80 cups of tea a day, or taking an extra four-minute shower.
Paul continued: “As key workers our engineers have been working hard throughout lockdown to keep taps running and toilets flushing.
“The risk, if we continue to see peak demand levels like these is that only so much water we can treat and put into the network at any one time.
“If everyone draws on that supply at the same time, we could see water pressures dip, meaning it can’t flow from the taps so freely.
“After a wet winter our water supplies are in a good position with reservoirs 90 per cent full and groundwater levels healthy.
“The cooler temperatures forecast later this week will give our reserves some reprieve, but we need help from our customers to continually manage their usage while we’re all still at home.
“That’s why we’re asking people to use the water they need to stay hydrated and healthy, but please think carefully about discretionary use and reuse water wherever possible, to help us keep taps running this summer.”
Among tips the company has urged residents to use are for you to use washing up or bath water to water plants and potentially collect shower water in a bucket as you’re waiting for it to get warm enough.
