Plea from Scottish Water to save water in warm weather

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Scottish Water is reminding residents and visitors to use water efficiently in warm weather.

Demand across the country was so high last week that Scottish Water had to provide 100 million litres of extra water per day, compared with normal levels at this time of year.

As temperatures soared in much of the country, this increased to more than 200 million litres extra per day over the weekend.

Scottish Water is tankering extra water into some parts of the country to maintain supplies, including Tighnabruaich and Portavadie.

Water levels in reservoirs are at 74 per cent. This is a fall from 77 per cent last week and from 90 per cent in late May.

Current levels are below average for this time of year but the main issue is demand for water from customers, which has increased considerably during the warm weather.

When garden water use increases dramatically, for things like sprinklers and paddling pools, that places considerable strain across our infrastructure to move the water as quickly as customers need it. If people across the country – residents and visitors – can take some simple steps to reduce their water use, they can make a big contribution towards our efforts to maintain normal supplies for everyone and there will be fewer tankers on the roads.

People can help protect water supplies by:

■ using a watering can instead of a garden hose

■ not using jet washers, which use an average of 36 litres of water

■ not using paddling pools, which use an average of 400 litres of water, but if pools are used try quarter filling them and using the water for your garden afterwards

■ turning the tap off when brushing teeth

■ using washing machines and dishwashers only when fully loaded

More information on saving water is available at www.scottishwater.co.uk/savewater.

Kes Juskowiak, Scottish Water.