Public asked to consider water use

With forecasts of more dry, warm weather to come, we are working to ensure our supply systems can cope with demand, which has increased during the recent dry weather, and are urging people to help save water by using water efficiently in the garden and outdoor spaces by using a watering can instead of a garden hose where possible; taking shorter showers; turning the tap off when brushing teeth; using washing machines and dishwashers only when fully loaded and using a bucket and sponge rather than a hose to wash the car.

The public water supply is resilient but there has been a recent increase in water use by customers. As a result, the amount of water put into the network has had to be increased by 100 million litres per day – the equivalent of 50 Olympic-sized swimming pools or 1.2 million baths each day.

The company is using an average of 180 litres of water per person per day, which remains higher than pre-Covid levels and is higher than the rest of the UK where people use an average of 145 litres per person per day.

Average reservoir levels across Scotland are at 85%, 4% lower than average for this time of year and 6% lower than this time last year.

Kes Juskowiak, general manager of customer water services, said: “We’re working hard to maintain normal supplies for all but would ask that customers consider how they use water and to protect this precious resource. We believe that a large part of the additional water use is within gardens so we would ask that customers are mindful of how much water they use in outdoor spaces such as lawns.”

He added: “Water is always worth saving, so we would ask everyone to do all they can in and around the home and garden to help us keep water flowing normally. By taking simple steps to reduce the volume used around the home and garden, we can make our country’s water go even further.”

Scottish Water posts facts and tips on social media to raise awareness about the need to save water and more information is available at www.yourwateryourlife.co.uk/save.

Scottish Water will launch its’Water is always worth saving’ campaign on June 12. The creative campaign will encourage people to be aware of the water they use, understand that water is precious and worth saving all year round and make small adjustments to lifestyles to reduce any needless consumption of water.

Multi-channel, the campaign will be across digital, social media, Press, radio and television. Scottish Water works with other organisations with an interest in this area and our Summer Community Engagement events programme will have a significant focus on being water-smart this summer and always.