Scottish Water customers across Scotland asked to use water wisely

Issued by Scottish Water

Scottish Water is asking customers to use water wisely in their daily activities to help maintain supplies during the current period of hot summer weather.

Following a sustained dry period without any significant rainfall, customer usage has increased significantly. With the current weather conditions forecast to continue, Scottish Water is encouraging people to take simple but important steps to conserve our public water supplies.

In some areas there has been a 30% increase in demand for water during the summer so far and an additional 140 million litres are currently being produced and pushed through the system every day to meet current customer usage.

Scottish Water has been monitoring the situation closely and managing supplies across the country, including deploying additional resources to move water between distribution areas and tankering water to supplement local networks.  

Some water treatment works and distribution networks are working at near capacity to meet demand.  

Average reservoir levels are generally normal for this time of year but the current level of usage and continuing dry weather means stocks of stored water available for use are reducing.

Customers are being asked to reduce usage wherever possible. Businesses are also being asked to consider their usage and how they can use water more efficiently. Simple, practical steps which we encourage include:

• Taking shorter showers

• Using a watering can rather than a hose to water plants

• Using a bucket rather than a hose to wash vehicles; only washing windscreens/lights instead of the whole vehicle

• Turning off taps in the home whenever possible

• Using washing machines and dishwashers fully loaded

Peter Farrer, Scottish Water’s Chief Operating Officer, said: “Water usage levels during the current hot summer weather, particularly during peak times such as morning and early evening, mean we are working around the clock to get water around the system quickly enough.

“Scotland’s public water supply is the lifeblood of the country, for household and business customers. We usually supply more than 1.3 billion litres a day to customers. 

“We have a strong and resilient distribution network to keep our customers supplied but we’re asking everyone to play their part in helping us as Scotland enjoys its hottest and driest summer in many years.

“By encouraging simple but important changes to how people use water over the coming days and weeks of dry, warm weather, this will make a big difference to the flow of water around the network and protect supplies.”

Environment Secretary Roseanna Cunningham said: “Much of Scotland has been enjoying a period of warm and dry weather and, with this forecast to continue, now is a good time for all of us to take action where we can to ensure that we maintain the network’s stocks of water.
  
“Scottish Water is managing current levels of water usage closely, and I encourage people everywhere, whether using water at home, or in their business, to work with Scottish Water and follow their helpful advice and suggestions to use water wisely. This will allow the network to operate as normal, supporting all our water needs everywhere.”

To help customers use water wisely, advice is available on our website www.scottishwater.co.uk/savewaterscotland or call our Customer Helpline on 0800 0778 778.

Businesses should speak to their licensed provider for advice.