Anglian Water engineers are gearing up for possibly their biggest June weekend on record, supplying water to homes across the East of England as temperatures are set to soar.

This week, Anglian Water has reported a 30% increase in the amount of water used by customers, taking levels over 1.4 billion litres a day.  And with forecasts predicting that temperature will reach over 30 degrees this weekend in Britain, the water company are preparing for even higher levels of water going into supply, with pipe networks feeling the heat.

Ian Rule, Director of Water Services for Anglian Water said:

“On a normal day, we supply roughly 1.1 billion litres of top-quality drinking water to our 4.3 million customers across the East of England, but with temperatures predicted to climb we know we’ll exceed this by several hundreds of millions of litres a day as long as the hot weather is here, which will be a new record for this early in the summer.

“When the weather heats up, the demand for water significantly increases which puts added pressure on the water network. When everyone tries to draw on the water supply at the same time water pressure can dip, so customers may notice water can’t flow from their taps as freely as usual. We have an army of engineers working hard already to ensure everything is in the best shape possible before the hottest weather hits.

“While our water supplies are currently in relatively good health across the region, with reservoirs almost 90% full and groundwater levels in a good position for the summer, we can’t afford to be reckless with the supplies we have available – which is why we’re asking everyone to use a ‘little less’ wherever they can, so we can meet the demand and keep taps running for everyone.”

The East of England is one of the driest regions in the country and has a delicate environmental balance. This summer’s heat wave is just one of the kinds of extreme weather challenges that are becoming more common as a result of global climate change. It is also one of the fastest growing regions, with predicted population growth of over 700,00 people over the next 20 years.

To help build resilience and ensure there are plentiful supplies of safe, quality water now and in the future, Anglian Water is already investing heavily today to prepare for tomorrow. As part of its biggest ever business plan, worth £11bn, by the end of the decade the water company will complete its strategic pipeline to move water around the region, as well as finalise plans to begin building two new reservoirs.

Ian added: “Water is a precious resource, and we see ourselves its custodians, responsible for balancing the needs of customers with those of the environment. However, everyone who cares about nature has a role to play in striking the right balance - we all need to work together and that includes relying on our customers to use water wisely while continuing to have fun in the sun.”

Anglian Water’s top easy ways to save water:

• Ditch the hosepipe: A hosepipe uses around five times more water than a watering can. So a simple switch can keep your plants healthy without overwatering them. And using rainwater from a water butt, or leftover water from your bath or paddling pool means you can save precious tap water for essential things like drinking, washing and cooking.  
• Love your brown lawn: Your lawn is tougher than you think and can easily survive a few days of sunshine. If it desperately needs a drink, make sure to reuse rain or bathwater rather than wasting your drinking water. 
• Reuse the pool: Paddling pools use a lot of water. But we know they’re a great way to keep kids cool in the heat. You can easily use less water by not filling it up completely and by scooping out any bugs and leaves before covering it with a fitted bed sheet to keep it fresh for another use.  
• Hold off washing your car or patio: Please pack away the pressure washer until the hot weather’s over. Washing a car, patio or decking uses a lot of clean, treated water.  
• Make your water work twice as hard: If you’re rinsing food for dinner or a BBQ, don’t let it drain away. Instead collect it in a bowl or jug and use it to feed your indoor or garden plants.

For more top tips visit Anglian Water’s water saving page.