‘Use water wisely’ with dry spell coming

Northumbrian Water is appealing for customers to use water carefully as the weather becomes warmer.

The company, which has 2.7million North East customers, wants people to think before reaching for paddling pools, hot tubs and hosepipes.

A paddling pool uses up to 450 litres of water; a hot tub

1,500 litres – the equivalent of 882 standard kettles. Using a hosepipe for one hour takes 100 litres.

However, keeping a water butt in your garden collects up to 200 reusable litres.

Last year record-breaking temperatures and the pandemic forced people to holiday at home, leading to increased demand.

There is no current water shortage, but the Met Office forecasts a dry period for the coming days with temperatures rising this weekend. Martin Lunn, head of water service planning at Northumbrian Water, is urging careful use.

He said: “In 2020, we saw a big increase in water demand during the summer, starting from the May bank holiday.

“Although we’re used tomanagingdemand and have tried and tested plans in place, we still need customers to play their part by using water wisely, so that we can continue to manage supplies and keep the water flowing.

“Our water stores are healthy for this time of year, but using things like hot tubs or paddling pools can pull on our resources. So if you do decide to use things like this, make sure you get the best out of them.”

For more information on saving water, visit www.nwl. co.uk/summer