South East Water Gears Up To Produce More Drinking Water As Temperatures Soar

Friday, 7 August 2020 09:13

A water company is gearing up ready to produce up to an extra one hundred million litres of drinking water a day as the temperatures soar again this week.

South East Water's technicians will be working round the clock across Sussex to produce the extra water needed - the equivalent of 1.25 million flushes of the toilet.

The amount of water available in reservoirs and groundwater stores has been good this year, but as the hot summer continues demand for water remains high.

The company is thanking its water savvy customers who are helping to spread the water efficiency message where they see water being wasted.

But it is hoping that more can be done as in the same way that motorways can become jammed when the rush-hour is busier than normal, if people fill super-sized paddling pools, hot tubs, use water sprinklers and hosepipes at the same time this adds huge pressure to the normal peak-period demands which can make it difficult to deliver the water quickly enough.

Steve Andrews, Head of Central Operations for South East Water, said:

"There are things all of us can do to make sure the water we have is enough to go round.

"To help keep up with this extra demand we're pumping more than 100 million litres of additional water through our pipes - but there may be low pressure at times for some people.

"Our customers can help sure everyone has the water they need to drink, cook, wash and clean with this weekend, like leaving their lawns to turn golden and not washing the car this week.

"Water sprinklers are also extremely thirsty - in one hour they can use what a family of four would use in two whole days."

The water company is giving these top tips for looking after paddling pool water:

Keep your paddling pool covered when not in use to save refilling it as often.
Have a small washing up bowl to clean feet in before getting into the pool will help the water last longer (although easier said than done with kids - but for big kids this will help).
Don't fill paddling pools in the early evening when demand for water is higher.
When it comes time to change the water use it on your garden - children can help with this, or pour it into a water butt to help refill those while we wait for rain.

Being water savvy in the sunshine helps ease pressure on the company's extensive network of 9,000 miles of pipes, pumping stations and treatment works, which are working round the clock to keep taps running.