When the temperature rises, so does people’s water use. But if we all use too much at once, there won’t be enough to go round. While Southern Water works to keep taps and toilets flowing this summer, you can help by using only what you need. If we all do our bit, everyone will have enough for life’s essentials.

In hot weather, we all count on water so we can stay hydrated, keep the plants healthy and help the kids cool down. But a lot of work happens to get water from the source to your tap.

We supply 2.5 million people in the South East – if everyone uses too much at once, demand can outweigh the amount of water treated and ready to supply. As temperatures rise, you can help us make sure there’s enough for everyone by using water wisely.

What we’re doing

We’re doing our bit to keep taps and toilets flowing in the South East. Our teams work around the clock to find and fix leaks on our 13,905km of water mains – that’s almost the same as the distance from England to Australia! Millions of litres of water are saved each day by the leak alarms on the water meters we’re fitting. Even though our level of leakage per property is one of the best in the sector, we’re not stopping there…

As part of our Target 100 commitment, we’ve committed to support customers to reduce their average water use to 100 litres per person, per day by 2040. Meanwhile, we’ll reduce leakage by 40% in the next 20 years. Want to help? Report a leak if you spot one while you’re out and about.

We’re also working with property developers to reduce the impact of new homes in our region. As a licensed water company, we have a duty to provide water and wastewater services, so we can’t refuse new connections or object to new developments. However, we’re working closely with developers to encourage and incentivise the building of water-efficient homes, so we can combat the impact of population growth in the water-stressed South East.

We’re always keen to share ways you can help by using water wisely.

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Bright ideas to help you save

Saving water has lots of perks. Little changes could save you money on your bills, reduce your carbon footprint and protect the rivers and habitats your water comes from. It all makes a difference. 

While you enjoy the sunshine, here are a few simple ways you can use less:

  • Take a break – Skip those non-essential, water-intensive chores like washing cars, patios and windows.
  • Sweat it out – Save the shower until after your workout. Remember, keep it to four minutes and you could save a tenner on your yearly bill too.
  • Stay cool – Give the paddling pool a little top-up each day instead of refilling it every time – and remember to sprinkle the used water around your garden when you’re done.

Want to see bigger savings? Our freebies can save you from splashing out. Request one of our water-saving home visits and an engineer could visit your home to share water-saving tips and fit up to £100 worth of water-efficient devices, there and then.

Prefer online? That’s fine! If you register for GetWaterFit, our water-saving calculator, you can request a free video consultation. You’ll be sent water-saving devices in the post and taught how to fit them during the half hour call.

Let’s make summer count

Together, we can make sure nobody’s summer is overshadowed by water shortages. For more ways to save, check out our tips on how to save water in hot weather.