Customers Urged Again to Save Water - Despite the Rain

“We still have significant challenges but if everyone does their bit it will undoubtedly help”

John Griffen
Water Operations GM, Scottish Water

East of Scotland remains a key concern as new figures show reservoir levels there are 28% below average for the time of year.

Scottish Water is calling on customers across the country, particularly in the east, to continue to save water in homes and gardens – despite heavy rain in some areas yesterday (Weds) with more forecast.

The utility is asking people to use less water to help protect water resources and maintain normal supplies after new figures showed that reservoir levels in most parts of the country fell again in the past week, despite the rain.

Following the driest spring in Scotland in 70 years, and a drier than average August in the east, many reservoirs in this part of the country are below normal levels.

• Average reservoir levels across Scotland are at 69% this week, which is 13% lower than the average of 82% for this time of year.
• In the east of Scotland, average reservoir levels are down 2% this week to 53%, which is 28% below the average of 81% for this time of year there.

John Griffen, Scottish Water’s water operations general manager, said: “Although there has been some rainfall, which we very much welcome because we need it, this has not been prolonged or widespread enough to undo the damage to water resources caused by month after month of dry weather since last winter.

“We’re working hard to maintain normal supplies for all customers, and there is no immediate threat to this, but we are again asking that they use water as efficiently as possible to help us protect what is, even in Scotland, a precious resource. 

“We still have significant challenges, but if everyone does their bi,t it will undoubtedly help. Customers might not think what they do individually will make any difference, but it absolutely does.” 

Scottish Water has seen demand for water decrease in the past week by between 50 and 60 million litres per day – enough to supply about half of Fife with water for a day – but is urging customers to help save even more.

The decrease in demand is partly due to many areas having had some rainfall recently, and people being less likely to use water in their gardens during wet weather.

However, the business is again asking customers, particularly those in the east, to help protect normal supplies at all times by:  

• Using water efficiently in the garden and outdoor spaces by using a watering can instead of a garden hose, where possible and avoiding using sprinklers 
• Taking shorter showers
• Turning the tap off when brushing teeth
• Using washing machines and dishwashers only when fully loaded
• Using a bucket and sponge rather than a hose to wash the car.
• Checking for and repairing any leaking toilets

Scotland had a very dry start to the year (Jan-May) across the country as a whole, and in the east in particular. For the east of Scotland Met Office region, it was the 6th driest Spring on record (out of 190 years) and the Jan-May period was the driest since 1953 - the 5th driest of 190 years. 

Rainfall for June-July was closer to average across most of the country, while in August there was another period of below average rainfall in the east.

We are individually using an average of 178 litres of water per person per day, which is higher than in England and Wales, where people use an average of 137 litres per person per day.

Scottish Water posts facts, tips and activities on social media to raise awareness about saving water, and more information is available at 
www.yourwateryourlife.co.uk/save

Information on our Climate Adaptation Plan, which has good statistics and a map on water scarcity projections, is available here: Climate Change