Water Great Summer

Whether you’re taking a swim, growing flowers in the garden or preparing a delicious summer salad, water is essential for a great summer.

This year, despite a very dry spring, we have no plans to introduce a hosepipe ban. Thanks to our investment in water resources, we have increased water storage by 30% in Devon and 45% in Cornwall.

This means there’s more stored water, so we can keep meeting demand even with less rainfall.

We’ve also been fixing leaks, finding new sources of water and helping customers to use less water. These efforts have increased the region’s water resilience – our ability to cope with dry spells.

Here are a few ideas to help you make the most of water this summer.

Heading to the beach or a river

Planning a day by the water? Follow these steps to make sure your day goes swimmingly.

1. Put a big bottle of tap water in the fridge the night before to take with you – add ice cubes to keep it cool. This will keep you hydrated on the beach and save money on buying bottled drinks. Find out more about your drinking water.
2. Use our WaterFit Live bathing map to check whether storm overflows have operated recently near your chosen beach. We’re making progress on reducing storm overflow use and plan to tackle overflows at every bathing beach by 2030.  
3. Make sure you know about staying safe in the water. It’s better to use a beach with a lifeguard, understand safety flags and know how to avoid dangers like riptides. See this Met Office article for some helpful tips.

Make it a day to remember

The beach isn’t the only place to be this summer. Why not take a trip to one of our scenic reservoirs, or find a new way to keep the kids entertained in the garden?

1. Visit a lake – many of our reservoirs are open to visitors. Take a stroll by the waters and spot some amazing wildlife – some sites even have cafes, campsites, and facilities for activities like fishing and cycling. Find out more on the South West Lakes Trust website.
2. Take a trip to a local park, garden or garden centre to find out more about water-savvy planting. See our blog on getting your garden summer ready for ideas.
3.   Have fun with your kids in the garden– without a paddling pool. Even small pools use around 600 litres of water to fill. Read our tips about water-saving ways to keep little ones cool.  

Learn about the fascinating role of water and the natural world

Water is amazing. We take it for granted that water comes out of the tap when we turn it on, but each droplet has been on a remarkable journey.

1. Find out about the journey of water – how it is captured, stored, treated, transported and piped to your home. Read up on projects that are improving the water network for the South West.
2. Support local wildlife by adding a pond or birdbath to your garden. If this isn’t possible, even a small pot of flowers can help bees and other insects. You’ll be following in the footsteps of our nature-based solutions, which support biodiversity while improving raw (untreated) water quality.
3. Nature plays a vital role in supporting community wellbeing. We provide support for community groups around the region, from funding water butts on allotments to supporting drought-resistant gardens. Find out more about our community work.

Save water, save money

In summer, we tend to use more water – mainly for watering the garden. A few simple steps can help you use less water. If you’re on a water meter, this should reduce your bill. If you don’t have a meter, you might save on energy bills from heating less water.

1. Go for a quick shower – a full bath uses 80 litres of water, whereas a four-minute shower uses just 24. Across the year, this could save you £££ on water and energy bills. See our water saving tips page for more tips.
2. Get a water butt – a free source of water for your garden. Many plants prefer the acidity level of rainwater to tapwater. The average UK roof can collect enough to fill 450 water butts a year.
3. Look out for leaks – as well as wasting water, they can damage your home and push up your water bill, if you’re on a meter. See our leaks page for more info.

Our water-saving tips page has ideas for how to save water in the bathroom, kitchen and in the garden.