Turn that tap off - before we run dry

Posted on July 7, 2005

Turn that tap off! Only a fortnight after assuring customers that supplies were safe for the summer, Three Valleys Water has done an about turn and issued a 'save it' plea to punters.

We need to cut down immediately on any non-essential water use, especially when using sprinklers, hosepipes and garden pools, it warns.

Company bosses say that demand for water is now so high that they're having to work harder than ever to keep supplies flowing.

And the soaring demand means that during peak demand times - from 7am to 10am and from 4pm to 9pm - there may be low pressure problems in some areas.

During the recent heatwave the firm pumped more than a billion litres of water over one weekend - 25 per cent up on the average demand.

Managing director Peter Darby said: "Our main concern is the extreme strain on the water supply network caused by surges of demand when people turn on hosepipes and psrinklers to water their gardens at peak times.

"The soaring temperatures resulted in a huge demand for water, much of which is simply wasted outdoors."

He warned that sprinklers and most garden pools should only be used when a water meter is fitted, and company sleuths are using state of the art equipment to track down anyone flouting those rules.

Anyone using a sprinkler without a meter can face a £1,000 fine, and although that doesn't apply to hosepipes, users are urged to be 'socially and environmentally responsible' by avoinding wastage and unnecessary use.

Source: Herald & Post, 7 July 2005