Help avoid a hosepipe ban

Turning off the tap after you start brushing your teeth with toothpaste will save water

The hot weather means there is massive increase in water consumption across the area.

A United Utilities spokesperson said: “On Friday, 29 June an additional half a billion litres was used and it was the same on Saturday 30 June.

“We urgently need your help and support to avoid a hosepipe ban.

“You can help us by turning off your garden sprinklers, not using your hosepipes, not washing your car and taking shorter showers and not baths.

“The demand is so high, particularly during peak times, that we are struggling to get enough water around the system quick enough.

“We know some customers are seeing a drop in pressure during peak times. We will keep moving water around the system to get it where needed but if we can all do our bit to not use garden sprinklers, hoses or jet washes at the moment, it really makes a difference.

“Small things like a minute less in the shower and re-using water where ever you can do help.

“If we can all do our bit this will reduce the risk of lower water pressure or no water at all. Thank you, we really appreciate your help.”

Try these easy tips in the house and garden and see how much water you can save.

Using water inside

• Spend one minute less in the shower - if each member of a family of four spent one minute less in the shower they could save approximately 36 litres of water a day!
• Use a washing up bowl - instead of letting the tap run for longer than it needs to, use a washing up bowl – you can reduce wasted water by up to 50%! Even better, use your dishwasher, you’ll save yourself a job and often they use less water than washing dishes by hand – remember to do a full load each time.
• Turn off the tap - turning off the tap while brushing your teeth saves a massive six litres of water per minute! For a family of four that could be up to 48 litres a day.
• Boil only what you need - people often overfill the kettle when they make a cuppa, think about it next time you make one just for yourself, and make your mantra: 'boil only what you need'.

Using water outside

• Ditch the hosepipe - hosepipes use hundreds of litres of water an hour. Use a watering can for your plants, and a bucket and sponge for your car, and you’ll be doing the environment a good turn.
• Water out of hours - water your garden in the early morning or late evening, when less water is lost through evaporation.
• Use mulch for moisture - add a layer of mulch (eg bark chips, manure) over your soil to retain moisture and keep weeds at bay.
• Choose less thirsty plants - try planting drought-resistant plants, such as geraniums. They look great, and require a lot less water, and not watering them as often means you can save time too!
• Buy a water butt - a water butt collects the rain from your roof, so you can give your plants a drink.