Sussex Suppliers' Plea To Save Water In Heatwave

Friday, 7 August 2020 11:03

By John Warburton @Warblefly

Taps shouldn't run dry this weekend (Photo: Maksym Kozlenko / Creative Commons)

One of Sussex's water companies says it's preparing to supply up to an extra one hundred million litres of drinking water a day in the heatwave starting today (August 7) — but there's no drought yet.

South East Water's technicians will be working round the clock across Sussex, along with its staff in Kent, Surrey, Berkshire and Hampshire, to produce the extra water needed by that company alone — which the company claims is the equivalent of 1.25 million flushes of the toilet.

Staff said the amount of water available in reservoirs and groundwater stores has been good this year.

However, the hot summer means that demand for water remains high.

Its officials explained what happens to the water supply network at times such as these:

"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.

"In this case, it can be difficult for the network to deliver the water quickly enough."

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

"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."

Water companies have specific guidelines for families with paddling pools:

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.