Should we stop having showers to save water?

THE Environment Agency has asked householders to save water by scrimping on showering (Mail). The water that we might save may sound considerable until you compare it to the millions of gallons wasted in leaks by the water companies. DAVID HAMPSON, Harpenden, Herts.

I LIVE close to reservoirs that supply Leeds and Bradford. For five years, I have written to Yorkshire Water to say they are becoming silted up and need to be dredged. Is essential maintenance work being done? Have any new reservoirs been built to cope with the growth in the population?

JOHN HARRISON, Harrogate, N. Yorks.

HOW ironic that water companies, who make a profit from our water wastage, and the Environment Agency are warning us to use less or face the taps running dry. How much water is lost between collection and our taps? Instead of the usual excuse of climate change and threats of bans and cut-offs, there ought to be a nationwide review of future needs and a pledge to build necessary infrastructure.

V. SuMMERS, Penzance, Cornwall.

WITH all the rain earlier in the year causing flooding, there would be a glut of water — if the reservoirs were managed properly.

Mrs P. PASMORE, Shepperton, Surrey.

OUR water reserves are such that we can expect extreme shortages in the Midlands and the South. We only need a few sunny days before we are asked to use water sparingly. This is a national disgrace. Why don’t we have a system to pipe water from one region to another? A. WOOLLS, Burton Latimer, Northants.

THERE is an easy way for us all to save water. Fill a used one-pint plastic milk carton with water and place in the toilet cistern to reduce the amount of water for every flush. If every home did this, billions of gallons of water would be saved every year.

BOB CuBITT, Daventry, Northants.