A water company is urging its customers to use water wisely amid the current heatwave.

Severn Trent has asked people to consider how they are using water after he country experience its direst July since 1911.

With temperatures hitting the 30s and with little rain in the forecast, demand for water has increased to some of the highest peaks on record.

Sophie Evans-Young, water efficiency manager at Severn Trent, said: “As the glorious summer sunshine continues, there’s naturally a greater demand for water so our teams are working around the clock to keep the network in good shape. 

“Our region has experienced the driest July in a century and with no rainfall in the forecast, we’re asking people to be mindful of their water use, as small behavioural changes can add up to a big difference.

“We’d like to thank all our customers for their continued support as the warm and dry weather continues into the summer.”  

The company hasn’t had a temporary usage ban in 27 years, instead relying on its Drought Action Plan.

This involves pumping an extra 100 million litres of water into the network every day, while doubling the number of tankers in the fleet so that water can be moved into supply more quickly.

Engineers are also fixing around 3,000 leaks a month, which can be caused by pipes bursting as a result of the ground drying up and moving due to the hot weather. 

Meanwhile, Dan Taberner, operations manager for visitor sites at Severn Trent, has urged people to make the most of their sites, such as Trimpley Reservoir in the north of the county.

He said: “It’s always fantastic to see people enjoying our wonderful sites and we really want to encourage people to use all the facilities on offer including play areas and lovely walks around the reservoirs and surrounding areas. 

“We also realise that on a hot day, a large body of water such as a reservoir can look like a tempting option to cool off, but there are hidden dangers under the surface including pumping machinery, and even on a hot day, the water will be extremely cold that can lead to even the strongest swimmers getting into trouble.  

"So, we’d like to encourage people come and have a great day out but ask them to please stay out of the water.” 

Severn Trent's tips for using water efficiently 

  • Keep a jug of water in the fridge to enjoy nice cold water when you want it, rather than running the tap until it’s cold  
  • Ask children to water the plants with leftover water from their paddling pool
  • Wait until the dishwasher or washing machine is full before using it  
  • Check to see if you have a leaky loo, which could increase water usage by 20%