Dry Weather Myth Busters
Reservoirs are the number one source of water supplies to customers (although we also rely on rivers and groundwater). We rely on the rainfall over the winter period to replenish these sources so we can store enough water for our customers to use throughout the summer. These reservoirs vary in size which means that some can fill quickly while others take much longer. This becomes more problematic as we have more prolonged periods of dry weather, caused by climate change.
We keep a close eye on reservoir levels all year round but there are also strict limits on how much water we need to release from reservoirs into our rivers and the amount of water we’re allowed to take to protect the environment.
Wales receives much more rainfall than other parts of the UK. Yet, because the nature of our land use is different with 82% of our landscape being rural land, 97% of the rainfall we receive is used for agriculture and the environment. This means only 3% is captured by our infrastructure for supplying water to customers. This contrasts to the Southeast of England, where up to 50% of rainfall is used for supplying water to customers.
Not necessarily – most reservoir levels are lower at the moment than we’d normally expected at this time of the year. This is why we’re asking customers to work with us to use all the water that you need but to please not waste it. A number of things will happen before we introduce a ‘Hosepipe Ban’ and we are already well underway with doing what we can to avoid restrictions like moving water around and fixing as many leaks as we can, as quickly as we can. This is why we’re asking customers to work with us.
In 2022, we introduced a ’Temporary Use Ban (also known as a hosepipe ban) to Pembrokeshire and parts of Carmarthenshire as a vital step to protect water supplies for the area.
On a typical day, we supply nearly a billion litres of water, which is treated at 69 water treatment works and distributed through over 27,000 kilometres of pipes. Despite this vast network of infrastructure, customer demand can vary significantly, especially when it gets warm. Whether it’s filling paddling pools, watering the garden, or washing the car on hot days, the demand for water can skyrocket, leaving our ability to meet this demand stretched almost to its limit.
If the speed at which customers use water outpaces our ability to supply it that’s when we can see pressure dips, especially during peak times. Our teams work hard to manage these fluctuations, but there are small things we can all do at home to help ease the pressure. Have a look at our water saving tips.
It’s easy to take turning on the tap for granted, especially when there’s enough water to go around, and no Hosepipe Ban. However, conserving water is vital for ensuring a sustainable supply, meaning we can leave more water in the environment while keeping taps running, even on the hottest days. Have a look at our water saving tips.
While reducing leakage plays a role in water availability, there will always be leaks, in the same way there will always be roadworks, maintenance and upgrades are just part of the day job. We have invested an additional £54m over the past 2 years to reduce leakage but there is still more to do.
But we also need to work with our customers to use less too – that’s why we’re rolling out smart meters so we can all better understand the amount of water we use and do all we can to use only what we need.