With a rise in temperatures predicted this bank holiday weekend, so too will the demand for water. Everyone can have fun in the sun, and we can keep the water flowing if we all follow some simple water usage tips. 

Warm weather leads to more outdoor activities and higher water use, especially from pools, sprinklers, and hoses. By making small changes, we can all help reduce water use while staying cool.

Paul Bryce, Head of Water, NI Water explains:

“Our reservoir levels are in a healthy position for this time of year.  However, NI Water is concerned that high temperatures can create a huge demand surge from multiple properties using vast quantities of water at the same time.  

“If you think of your own water use, you may be using more water intensive equipment, such as power hoses, sprinkler systems, large pools. Coupled with the fact that a lot of people will be enjoying the bank holiday weekend, it can lead to a massive demand for water that our treatment works simply cannot supply. 

“Our Water Treatment Works are designed to treat a finite volume of water and if thousands of households are all trying to use large quantities at the same time, the treatment works, and distribution system can begin to struggle to keep up with demand.  Our teams work around the clock to cope with this additional demand, in an effort to keep customers in supply. 

“The public can help with this by perhaps putting off some of those DIY jobs they may have thought of doing, just until the sunnier days have passed. For example, could you put off washing your car over the weekend?  If you fill a paddling pool, could you cover it, so you can reuse it the next day? Lawns are great survivors, they can look dried out, but once rain comes, they can quickly spring back to their usual green selves!   Can you avoid turning on the sprinkler system for a day or two?  

“An easy one we can all do is simply turn off the tap when we brush our teeth.  A running tap uses 6 litres of water a minute. If we all took one or two small steps to reduce water usage, there would be plenty to go round for everyone to enjoy the sunny days!”  

For quick water-saving tips this week:
•    Leave those DIY jobs just for a few days, power hosing can use 1.5- 2.5 gallons per minute. 
•    Avoid using a sprinkler system - this can use two to five gallons of water per minute.
•    Turn off the tap when brushing your teeth – A running tap wastes up to 6 litres a minute. 
•    Keep a jug of water in the fridge instead of running the tap for cold water. Replace it every 24 hours.
•    Wash vegetables in a bowl – Reuse the leftover water on your plants.
•    Run washing machines only when full – Half loads use more than half the water and energy of a full cycle.
•    Fix leaking taps – Just one drip can waste over 60 litres each week.
•    Use a watering can, not a hose – Hoses consume over 500 litres an hour, enough to fill 12 baths.

If you want to find out more about how you can save water visit https://www.niwater.com/education-and-the-community/water-saving

For information on staying safe in the sun visit https://www.nidirect.gov.uk/news/taking-care-sun 

NI Water are encouraging customers to sign up to its free text alert service which keeps them updated about anything that may impact on their water supply or any of our other services in the area. Sign up here https://www.niwater.com/register-for-keeping-you-informed/