A new online tool has been launched to help people protect water following one of the driest Aprils on record.
Met Office figures show that England saw just over a third of its average April rainfall, with parts of the South East receiving even less than that. The region is already one of the driest in the UK and by 2030, water demand could outstrip supply.
Southern Water is delivering its biggest ever investment programme to safeguard against water shortages. This includes funding new water sources; using new technology to prevent and fix leaks, and building new infrastructure, including reservoirs.
The company is also asking customers to play a part. A Water UK poll found that most UK households use more than 5 times the amount of water they think they do. Southern Water’s new online water calculator gives people a tailored picture of their consumption and offers bespoke advice on where they could save water and reduce their bills.
Southern Water’s Water Efficiency Manager Kim Turnbull said:
“There are so many factors that impact our water usage, from how often we water our lawn to how long we’re spending in the shower. Some people might have a dog that needs a lot of baths or a hot tub they like to relax in after work. Our water calculator uses these individual details to estimate a household’s water usage and highlight where it may be possible to make savings.
“We recognise the work we need to do as a company to protect against water shortages and we hope customers will also play their part by using tools like these. It may seem that something as simple as taking a shorter shower or installing a water butt in the garden won’t make much difference. But if we all take these small steps, they add up to huge savings.”
In addition to online tools, customers whose water consumption is significantly higher than average are offered home visits where engineers can install more water-efficient devices, identify and fix hidden leaks and offer water-efficiency tips. We are also trialling water-saving kits containing gadgets such as tap aerators or shower timers designed to provide people with easy, immediate ways to cut water consumption.
Meanwhile, schools and businesses can apply for funding to introduce innovative water-saving schemes through our Business Partnership Fund, which opened for a new round last month. The fund has already supported more than 20 new projects in schools, garden centres, animal sanctuaries and leisure centres, saving more than 50 megalitres of water – the equivalent of 20 Olympic swimming pools.
Simple swaps to save water
- Turn the tap off while you brush your teeth.
- Turn the shower off while you soap up. Switch back on to rinse.
- Fix any dripping taps or pipes you’ve been putting off.
- Use the eco setting on your washing machine where you can.
- Fit a water butt which can hold up to 200 litres of water to use around your garden. Rainwater is rich in nutrients, so your plants will prefer it to tap water too.
Well If Southern Water got off there asses and built more reservoirs for when the island gets flooded we would have loads of water for everyone. Instead of wasting millions of pounds of peoples money on building the thing that’s going to turn sewage into drinking water…..
I think SW has bought thousands of pounds in shares in one or more of these bottle water company’s.
We used to have reservoirs all over the IOW, at least 3 in the Cowes area, brading Downs etc, but most have been either left empty and unused or built on so now we are dependant on what is piped over from the mainland.
So much of this water saving advice from southern water is complete and utter tosh. The water butt rainfall collecting is brilliant and all households should do this but otherwise, it’s their incompetence that’s lead to shortages. Not enough new infrastructure to adjoin the growing population. Not investing in existing infrastructure like the balls to cover reservoirs to protect against evaporation, faster repairs to fix leaks instead of leaving a leaking pipe for a 3 weeks before taking 4 months to fix it. I’m not turning off my shower whilst soaping up or turning off my tap whilst brushing my teeth that only takes a couple mins. We need better management and government oversight.
Ah, you mentioned the elephant in the room, POPULATION. (It’s out of control)
If Southern Water really cared they would install FREE water butts
for ALL households!
How long before the next hosepipe ban!!, my guess sometime
in June.
Southern Water DID SUPPLY FREE WATER BUTTS. We had one, delivered by Hursts along with a fitting kit, watering can, seed tray and planting compost, and we are not on benefits.
It’s all about coping with Climate Change, just what the Eco mob want; but they still complain!!