WITH temperatures set to hit 26 degrees Celsius in Redditch today, Severn Trent is calling for people to be ‘water wise’ during the current hot weather.
With forecasters reckoning it could be another fortnight of sun and high temperatures, the utility is asking people to think before using water, whether for washing the car or for gardening.
Doug Clarke, water efficiency manager at Severn Trent, said: “We all want to keep our gardens looking their best and now is the time that people will be planting bedding plants and seedlings.
“These can take a lot of watering in, and the biggest temptation is to get the hosepipe or sprinkler out and leave it running.
But this can use as much as 1,000 litres of drinking water in just one hour.
To put it in perspective, that’s more water than a family of four would normally use in a whole day.
“We’re also urging gardeners not to worry about the health of their lawns just yet.
“When we do get a shower or two, and no doubt we will that’s probably all your garden needs.”
The plea comes as contractors, working over the weekend, finally fixed the burst pipe on the Redditch Road between Studley and Woodrow / Park Farm, although water is still trickling from the site opposite the now derelict site of the school caretaker.
A spokesman said Severn Trent’s priority was to keep people supplied with water and those areas where this wasn’t the case would be dealt with when repair teams became available.
Mr Clarke added: “Our reservoirs and other water sources are in a healthy position and looking good for the summer ahead.
“We’re asking our customers not to be complacent and to think about being ‘water wise’ in whatever they do. If there’s even a chance that it’s going to be a long dry summer, then we need to get into good habits now.”
To get water saving devices go to www.stwater.co.uk/savewater.
