Save water plea as heatwave and staycations put supplies under pressure

  • Watch a report by ITV News Anglia's Russell Hookey

Water companies are urging people to save water in parts of the region or risk supplies being cut off or running at low pressure.

The heatwave and more people taking holidays at home has caused demand for water to spike. Anglian Water says it pumped an additional 20% more water into the Colchester area over the weekend as temperatures soared.

Affinity Water is also urgently asking all its customers to save water where they can.

Affinity is a Hertfordshire-based company but supplies to places like Clacton-on-Sea, where they say there's a very high demand for water at the moment.

People are being urged not to water the garden or fill paddling pools. Credit: ITV News Anglia

Customers are asked to help their communities by using less water. This includes not washing cars, filling paddling pools or watering the garden at the moment.

Staff at the provider also advise customers to take shorter showers, turn off the tap while brushing their teeth, and wait until you have a full load before using the washing machine or dishwasher.

Some customers in Clacton-On-Sea may already be experiencing low pressure or no water when demand is high in their area, according to Affinity Water.

Anglia Water is also pleading for people to save water Credit: ITV News Anglia

Anglian Water is also pleading for people to save water, particularly in the Colchester and Mersea Island area of Essex.

Director of Water Services for Anglian Water, Paul Valleley said: “We have seenunprecedented demand on our water supplies over the last few days and specifically in andaround Colchester.

"Our teams are working tirelessly to keep taps running but our network isunder a huge amount of pressure."

Most reservoirs in the Anglia region are at normal capacity ranging from 85-90% full at the end of June.

Abberton reservoir in Essex was rated at "below normal" at 81% capacity.

In the latest water situation report from the Environment Agency it said" The groundwater levels continues to decrease in majority of the key sites with the soil moisture deficit remaining above normal.

"The monthly mean river flows in majority of the sites are classified as below normal or lower with the River Cam reporting an exceptionally low flow."

Abberton reservoir in Essex was below normal capacity at the end of June at 81% full. Credit: Richard Moss