As Colchester prepares for another hot weekend, with temperatures set to reach 30 degrees, Anglian Water is asking its customers in the city to use water carefully to keep taps running for everyone.

The East of England has had its driest spring in more than 100 years and the recent heatwave has hugely increased the demand for water. During the recent hot weather, Anglian Water has supplied over 1.4 billion litres of water a day to its region.

That’s an increase of around 30% compared to typical demand, or about the amount used by an extra 1 million people across the region. This means that during the hot weather, meeting increased demand has meant supplying enough water for the equivalent of five additional Colchesters, on top of normal daily use.

Colchester is one of the driest parts of the East of England, which is already one of the country’s most water stressed regions. Anglian Water supplies tens of millions of litres of high-class drinking water to the ever-growing community and businesses across Colchester every day. This water is sourced from a mixture of groundwater sources and Ardleigh reservoir which is topped up by water from the River Colne during the year.
In reaction to the exceptionally dry weather rivers, reservoirs and groundwater resources are dropping across the region but the situation remains secure.  

The water company is continuously monitoring the situation across the East of England so that necessary action to protect water supplies to customers and the environment can be taken at a local level.

Anglian Water is also putting more boots on the ground to tackle leakage, which can be more common in hot weather due to the ground moving as it dries out, causing burst pipes. The water company is already an industry leader at finding and fixing leaks, with the world’s largest network of advanced leak-detecting sensors, and this year it is planning to invest an extra £10 million to get even better.

David Ward, Water Distribution Director for Anglian Water said:
“Colchester is one of the driest parts of our region, and in weather like this, we need your help to make sure everyone has the water they need, when they need it.

"We are working hard to continue supplying high-class drinking water to customers whilst protecting the environment, but with demand for water hitting an all-time high for this time of year and a significant lack of rainfall, if the dry weather continues as forecasts predict this month, we may need to take further action in order to keep taps running and toilets flushing.

“As one of the driest regions in the country, we are well versed in preparing for periods of prolonged dry weather, however water is a precious resource and unfortunately, we do not have an infinite supply.

“We’re working hard to do our bit by significantly reducing leaks in our pipes to lower levels than ever before. So far we’ve upgraded more than 94% of metered properties in Colchester with smart meters to help identify leaks in customers’ pipes. And as part of our biggest ever business plan, worth £11bn, by the end of the decade we will complete our strategic pipeline to move water around the region and finalise plans to begin building two new reservoirs.

“To help keep taps running for everyone and protect the local rivers and groundwater sources, we urge customers to do their bit too by using water wisely and reusing water wherever possible.”

Anglian Water’s top easy ways to save water:

Ditch the hosepipe: A hosepipe uses around five times more water than a watering can. So a simple switch can keep your plants healthy without overwatering them. And using rainwater from a water butt, or leftover water from your bath or paddling pool means you can save precious tap water for essential things like drinking, washing and cooking. 

Love your brown lawn: Your lawn is tougher than you think and can easily survive a few days of sunshine. If it desperately needs a drink, make sure to reuse rain or bathwater rather than wasting your drinking water.

Reuse the pool: Paddling pools use a lot of water. But we know they’re a great way to keep kids cool in the heat. You can easily use less water by not filling it up completely and by scooping out any bugs and leaves before covering it with a fitted bed sheet to keep it fresh for another use. 

Hold off washing your car or patio: Please pack away the pressure washer until the hot weather’s over. Washing a car, patio or decking uses a lot of clean, treated water.

 
Make your water work twice as hard: If you’re rinsing food for dinner or a BBQ, don’t let it drain away. Instead collect it in a bowl or jug and use it to feed your indoor or garden plants.