Households across the UK are being urged to take shorter showers and reduce water usage as a record-breaking June heatwave pushes temperatures towards 38C, placing severe strain on water companies.
Severn Trent Calls for Four-Minute Showers
Severn Trent has issued an urgent appeal for customers to limit showers to four minutes or less, use watering cans instead of hosepipes, and run only full loads in dishwashers and washing machines. The company says demand during the heatwave has surged dramatically.
In a statement, Severn Trent said: "It's been a hot summer so far, and we all use more water when the temperature rises - gardens, longer showers, washing the car. That's completely understandable. Demand during the heat wave is significantly higher than normal, and we've been producing an extra 400 million litres every day to keep up."
Leak Repairs and Customer Cooperation
The company emphasised it is fixing more leaks than ever and has exceeded its targets this year, but acknowledged more work remains. "It's an ongoing challenge across the whole industry, and one we're committed to staying on top of," the statement added. "And it's why smaller changes from customers genuinely matter - not because the burden is on you, but because when everyone chips in a little, it makes a real difference to how far the water goes."
Severn Trent also urged the public to report any leaks spotted in the street, describing this as one of the quickest ways the company can act.
Heatwave Expected to End Sunday
The extreme heat is forecast to subside on Sunday, with temperatures dropping to more comfortable levels around 23C, closer to the seasonal average. However, the current sweltering conditions have already pushed water demand to critical levels, prompting the company's plea for conservation.
