A water supply company is asking customers to use water wisely as warmer weather is set to arrive. The UK Health Security Agency has advised that UK temperatures could hit 30 degrees this weekend, with the Met Office predicting 29C for Nottingham on Saturday, June 10.
As the temperatures rise, Severn Trent is reminding households to be mindful of their water use. Sophie Evans-Young, Customer Demand Lead at Severn Trent said: “We tend to think about Britain as a country that gets more than its share of rain, but water is a precious resource and with temperatures expected to climb in the coming days, we want to remind customers to use water wisely.
“It’s natural when the weather gets warmer to get paddling pools out and using sprinklers, hosepipes and pressure washers to keep gardens and cars looking lovely. However, it’s water-intensive activities such as these that can cause a sudden spike in demand.” Whilst the Midlands has had some wet weather throughout April and May, February was the driest since 1993.
Should the UK deal with extreme weather better? Let us know
Additionally only 55% of the rain we would expect to see in May occurred and as 2022 was the hottest year on record, it appears that hotter and drier conditions will continue.
To work on these growing pressures on the water supply, Severn Trent is working on long term solutions. Sophie added: “Pressures from climate change and population growth mean we all need to think about how we use water all year-round, not just during the summer.
"We managed to avoid a hosepipe ban last year thanks to our year-round water management plan and the fantastic support of our customers, who helped ensure there was plenty of water for everyone to take care of life’s essentials.” Some of the tips for saving water include using a water can to water plants instead of a hosepipe.
Other suggestions include getting a water butt to save water for your garden, not using sprinklers, asking children to water plants with leftover paddling pool water or even using the leftover water to bath your dog. Severn Trent also recommends watering plants earlier or later in the day when it’s cooler and the water is less likely to evaporate.
As well as saving water, people could also save money on their utility bills just by making a few small changes. This includes saving £700 a year by cutting daily shower times from 10 to 5 minutes. Switching off the taps when you brush your teeth could save £100 a year, and fixing a leaky toilet could save £300 a year.
Advice has also been issued by The Kennel Club on how dog owners can keep their pets safe in the hotter temperatures. Dogs should not be walked during the hottest parts of the day, they should never be left in their car, and always have access to water and a shaded area.
Nick Sutton, health expert at The Kennel Club, said: "It’s essential that owners remember that dogs aren’t as good at dealing with hot weather as we are. When we’re hot, we sweat to cool down but dogs use a different technique and pant instead.
"Panting isn’t as effective as sweating, which means that they’re more at risk of heatstroke. One in seven dogs that are treated by vets for heatstroke die, so it’s important to keep dogs from overheating."
He continued: "While most people are aware of the dangers of leaving a dog in a hot car, most cases of heatstroke happen when owners over-exercise their dogs or exercise them on hot days, particularly for those more at risk of heatstroke, including overweight, elderly and flat-faced dogs. It’s vital that owners know the signs of heatstroke – which include heavy panting, tiredness, confusion dribbling and sickness – and, if their dog is affected, cool them down immediately while calling a vet for advice.”
READ NEXT:
'Leaked' Nottingham Forest away kit receives concerned response as Brazil point made
Hilarious responses over police advice on where to leave car keys
BBC Breakfast chaos as Download Festival attendee interrupts live broadcast
Jim Davidson to perform at Nottinghamshire Conservative Party fundraiser
BBC's Head of the Midlands announces he is leaving for new role
