Severn Trent urges people to use water wisely as temperatures set to reach 30°C

With temperatures expected to reach 30°C over the coming days, Severn Trent has urged people to be considerate about how they use water.

The main aim of the company is to ensure that there’s enough water for everyone, which additionally will help saving money on the bills.

Severn Trent has issued a list of top tips on how to save water, especially during warm weather.

“We always see a big jump in demand for water when the weather hots up, so with temperatures expected to climb in the coming days, we want to remind customers to use water wisely to make sure there’s enough for everyone to do the essential things like drinking, cooking, and cleaning," said Heather Hateley, water efficiency manager at Severn Trent.

“With so many more people still working from home and the school holidays just over the horizon, loads of families are getting the paddling pools out and hooking up their hosepipes, sprinklers and pressure washers to get their gardens looking lovely.

"It’s these activities that can cause such a jump in demand so we’re asking everyone to reuse water wherever possible.”

The company's saving water tips for summer to keep in mind for the rest of the year include using paddling pool water to water the garden, to switch off taps while brushing the teeth, and being mindful of the time spent in the shower.

These small and simple steps are some recommendations that can help to avoid a surge in demand for water during warm weather.

Karen Gibbs, senior policy manager at the Consumer Council for Water, said: “Our research reveals that in the last six months two-thirds of us have not made an effort to use less water but there are lots of simple ways to save ­— whether that’s shortening our showers or opting to use a watering can rather than a hosepipe.

"These simple changes can ease the pressure on the environment and save us money too.”

Here are Severn Trent's top tips to save water:

• When watering plants, use a watering can rather than a hose. 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 ­— and thirsty lawns will quickly bounce back once it starts raining again

• Get yourself a water butt ­— it’s a great way to save water when it rains, and you can use the water for your garden when it’s dry

• Think about planting water-efficient plants, such as Blanket flower (Gaillardia) Sea holly (Eryngium amethystinum) or Euphorbia

• Clean your car with a bucket or with leftover water from the paddling pool, rather than a hosepipe or pressure washer. It will save loads of water and help keep bills down

• Ask your children to water the plants with leftover water from their paddling pool

• Check to see if you have a leaky loo

Severn Trent is also urging people to resist the urged to cool off in reservoirs as temperatures rise.

Strong currents, freezing temperatures and hidden dangers lurking beneath the surface make it dangerous.

“It’s always fantastic to see people enjoying our wonderful sites and while we really want to encourage people to enjoy themselves in the lovely weather, we’d like to remind people to stay out of the water," said Dan Taberner, operations manager for visitor sites at Severn Trent.

“We know how tempting reservoirs can look in the warm weather, but even on a hot day, the water will be extremely cold and even strong swimmers may find themselves in difficulty. We don’t have lifeguards on site or safe swimming areas, so we’d ask visitors to not take that risk.”