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 bit of seaside fun? Follow these steps to make sure your trip 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, and efficient watering methods.
3. Have fun in the garden – paddling pools aren’t the only way to entertain kids in the summer. From water bottle skittles to bedsheet tents and spray battles, see our tips for water-saving summer fun.

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. Choose super-saver showers – have a shower rather than a bath and keep it short and sweet – play a favourite song and see if you can be out before it finishes. A family of four could save around £210 a year in water and energy costs if everyone cut their daily shower by two minutes.
2. Get a water butt – collect rainwater from your roof to keep your garden green. Bonus - many plants prefer rainwater, which has a different acidity level to tap water. The average UK house roof could collect enough to fill 450 water butts a year.
3. Fix your leaky loo. Many dual-flush toilets develop a trickle of water against the back. It might look tiny, but a 24/7 leak really adds up over time. Get the valve repaired to save up to £480 a year.

See more water-saving tips.