Following the declaration of a rare red heat warning, Dŵr Cymru Welsh Water expects customer demand for water to peak later this week with temperatures expected to reach 37°C in parts of Wales on Thursday, and more people spend time at home, in their gardens and outdoors.
The company’s teams are working 24 hours a day to maintain pressure across the network and ensure supplies stay flowing safely to homes, hospitals and businesses.
On a typical day, Welsh Water treats and supplies around 850 mega litres of fresh, clean water to its three million customers – that’s enough to fill 320 Olympic-sized swimming pools. As temperatures soar above 30°C, this level is expected to exceed 950 mega litres per day.
To keep up with the increased demand, Welsh Water’s teams are working around the clock to ensure a clean and safe water supply – maximising storage with network tracking in place. An extensive fleet of water tankers will help to move water around the network to keep underground drinking water tanks topped up in areas of high demand.
Welsh Water is encouraging everyone to drink plenty of water throughout the day, even if they don’t feel thirsty, and to take extra care of those most at risk in hot weather, including young children and babies who can dehydrate quickly; elderly relatives and neighbours particularly those living alone; pregnant women; people with long-term health conditions or those taking certain medications
However, the company is also asking customers to use the water they need, whilst being mindful not to waste it so that there is plenty for everyone.
Simple ways to use water wisely include:
- Reusing water where possible – for example, using paddling pool water to water plants and garden borders rather than pouring it away
- Using a watering can or bucket in the garden instead of a hosepipe or sprinkler
- Fixing dripping taps and running toilets, which can waste significant amounts of water over time
- Taking showers rather than baths, and keeping them as short as possible
- Only running washing machines and dishwashers with a full load
With many looking for ways to cool down, and more visitors expected at designated bathing spots during the warm spell, Welsh Water also reminds the public that swimming, paddling and the use of inflatables at its reservoirs is not permitted and can be extremely dangerous.
Reservoirs look calm and inviting, but they are operational sites rather than recreational swimming spots and can hide serious risks beneath the surface. These hazards include very cold water which can trigger cold water shock, sudden drops, strong or unpredictable currents and underwater machinery. Cold water shock can affect even the strongest swimmers, and the remote location of many reservoirs makes rescue more difficult and slower to reach. Entering the water to attempt a rescue also puts the rescuer at risk.
Welsh Water’s site rangers patrol reservoirs and surrounding land to help keep visitors safe and to discourage people from entering the water, with extra patrols planned during school holidays and periods of very hot weather. Organised open water swimming is only available at Welsh Water’s approved visitor attraction sites, where sessions are supervised by qualified lifeguards.
Marc Davies, Welsh Water’s Director of Water Services said: “Now that the red heat alert has been declared, we’re asking our customers to take extra care and stay healthy and safe. Please drink enough water to stay hydrated and cool – this is especially important for children, the vulnerable and the elderly.
“Our teams are working around the clock to make sure we can keep up with the increased demand for water during this period. We are also out across our operating area working to fix leaks on our networks. However, we do also ask our customers to be mindful not to waste water during this period of warm weather, to help ensure that we have plenty of water available to all our customers.
“And while our reservoirs can look inviting, there are often hidden dangers, so please do not swim at our reservoirs unless it is at an organised event, with appropriate lifeguard support.”
