Severn Trent appeals to everyone to help with saving water as it sees the highest demand for water in history across the Midlands in the driest May for a century.
Reasoning
New figures for the Severn Trent region produced by weather forecasting and analysis company Weatherquest have shown some areas in the Midlands received just 1mm of rain in May.
The lack of rainfall has led to lots of people using sprinklers to keep their lawns green and plants blooming, with the higher than average temperatures also seeing people using pressure washers to clean their cars, and getting the paddling pools out to keep their kids happy.
Add into that the fact that loads of people are at home due to the COVID outbreak and the extended period of hot weather, has led to the highest ever demand treated water seen in Severn Trent’s history.
Statistics
- On average, the central and southern parts of the Midlands received just 5-10% of their normal May rainfall.
- Company’s reservoirs remain 85% full of raw water, the challenge is treating and pumping it out fast enough to meet demand.
- Severn Trent’s treatment works are producing and pumping out 2.3 billion litres of treated water each and every day. That’s 95 million litres every hour of the day and more than Severn Trent has ever put into the supply on any day in its 30-year history.
- On average, people are using 20% more water than normal, compared to a normal May, and some areas are using as much as 40% more.
As a result, some areas across the Midlands, are seeing poor pressure and loss of supply in evenings as the pipes can’t carry water fast enough to meet the unprecedented demand.
How to help
In essence, cut back on non-essential use, especially as outside activity can use a lot of water:
- A hose/sprinkler uses around 1,000 litres an hour.
- A paddling pool holds 400 litres, which is roughly the same as three people’s average daily usage.
- Jet washers use 36 litres a minute.
