Switch baths for 4-minute showers to fight drought
FAMILIES have been told to swap baths for showers over fears water supplies may soon reach extremely low levels.
With a lack of rainfall in recent months, water companies have told households to cut down on their usage.
They recommended not using garden sprinklers, turning off the taps while brushing your teeth, and taking showers of no longer than four minutes.
Affinity Water, which supplies 3.6million customers in London and the Home Counties, is even offering timers to make sure showers do not take too long.
The firm says many rivers in the region are running low – and revealed that since last July the area has received little more than half of its average rainfall.
It said: ‘Like all water companies, we depend on rain for the water we supply to you.
‘Since July 2016 there has been low rainfall and the water in our aquifers and rivers that we use to supply your water has dropped below average.
‘This is important as 60 per cent of the water we supply to you comes from underground sources.’ It then suggested ways in which families can cut down on their consumption following the recent dry spell. The company said dishwashers and washing machines should be run with a full load and kettles should be boiled with only as much water as you immediately need in the kettle.
Affinity, which draws on groundwater rather than reservoirs for its supply, even urges its customers to buy drought-resistant bedding plants such as geraniums, French marigolds and petunias. The company also offered free devices such as economical shower heads, gadgets to save water in toilets and shower timers for children.
It is hoped that, if households stick to these guidelines, they can avoid drastic measures such as a hosepipe ban. Water UK, which represents the industry, said everyone should consider using water carefully.
A spokesman said: ‘Following a dry winter some rivers, groundwaters and reservoirs are lower than normal for the time of year.
‘We always advise that everyone use water wisely – especially during a period of dry weather – and to follow the advice of their water company should water saving measures be required.’
The lowest amount of rain in the UK last month was recorded at Gogarbank, Edinburgh, at just 3.2mm, followed by Hampton in South West London at 3.8mm.
A long-range weather forecast by the Met Office also suggests the next few months will be drier and warmer than average.
Cold weather last month could lead to a shortage of British apples, pears and plums, The National Farmers Union warned.
Alison Capper, of the union, said she feared her own apple harvest could fall by as much as 80 per cent. It is hoped that rainy spells over the next two months could put many crops back on track.