Dry Weather Update

Water's Worth Saving

We’re asking for your help to reduce the water you use at home and use it wisely wherever possible. There are currently no restrictions from doing anything yet. If we all start now and work together we can help to reduce the chance of a temporary usage ban (hosepipe ban) from being implemented.

How you can help

• Use water wisely and minimise any usage where you can. Follow our summer water saving tips. Small changes can make a big difference. 
• Warm weather can cause ground movement which can lead to burst pipes. If you see what you think might be a leak, you can help us out by reporting a leak and we will do our best to get it fixed as soon as we can.
• Check your toilets for leaks. If you think you might have a leak, we may be able to fix it for free. You can report it here.

The current situation in Essex and Suffolk

Due to the prolonged hot weather, the total water levels are now lower than normal and the Environment Agency has moved the region into Drought status. We're working hard to make sure we balance maintaining supplies to all our customers while also protecting the environment.

While we’re in this period of prolonged exceptionally dry weather we're asking everyone to be careful about their water use so we can keep the water flowing to all of our customers. 

What we're doing 

We're doing our best to save water too:

• We are closely monitoring and carefully managing the situation with our water resources, as reservoir levels are lower than they would normally be at this time of year, preparing for every eventuality.
• We have increased resources and are making extra investments to achieve our best-ever performance in repairing leaks, including redeploying our employees to find and fix leaks as well as deploying new technology.
• We’ve suspending planned work so we can focus our efforts on fixing leaks across the region.

Hi Everyone,

I just wanted to say a big thank you to all of you who signed up and had a water saving visit this year. Your enthusiasm and positivity towards the project have meant it has been a real success!

Water is a precious resource, and it is important that we reduce the amount of water we are wasting wherever possible. Your commitment to saving water and participating in this project has helped us do just that.

You are now saving water, saving energy and helping us to reduce our impact on our outstanding natural environment.

Together 2,779 of you took part saving over 1,380 bathtubs full of water a day.

In total 20,249 water and energy saving products are now in homes across Barking including:

• 1,957 water saving shower heads,
• 970 water butts for the garden, and
• 1,376 tap aerators for kitchen and bathroom taps

We also managed to repair 92 leaking toilets and 71 leaking taps for free saving customers the worry of getting it repaired themselves.

I hope you all continue to think about the tips and hints provided at the visits to help you save water, energy and money.

If you have friends and family who are interested in saving water please visit https://esw.watersavingkit.com/ where they will be able to order similar products for free to fit themselves.

Thank you

Tim

Hi everyone.

This is the first project update for Every Drop Counts in Barking.

I'm Tim Wagstaff and I am the Essex & Suffolk Water Project Manager for Every Drop Counts in Barking. I and the rest of the team will be posting updates throughout the project to let you know how it is going. The project team is made up of many people and organisations all focused on supporting customers save water, energy and money. There is a 'Meet the Team' tab on the front page that introduces some of them. 

WHAT IS THE ISSUE? Although it always appears to be raining, Barking is in fact one of the driest regions in the UK, receiving less rainfall than places like Spain and Greece. This is why, at Essex & Suffolk Water, we are passionate about promoting the efficient use of water so helping to protect the environment and meet the needs of future generations. Every Drop Counts is one of our campaigns that demonstrates our commitment to saving water and energy, and helping our local communities.

WHY BARKING? We have chosen to deliver Every Drop Counts in Barking to support the local community. Being one of the main growth areas in London over the next 20 years we want to support the local community in making the Borough a more sustainable and resilient place. Each of us manage to get through a staggering 4,500 litres of water a month which is the equivalent to 56 baths of water. If everyone in Barking takes part we can save a swimming pool of water every day.

HOW CAN YOU MAKE A DIFFERENCE? Did you know the water you drink is sourced from the River Lee which is then stored in King George’s Reservoir and then cleaned at the Chigwell water treatment works? Using less water helps to maintain some of the outstanding natural environment at these wildlife rich sites and provides a great place for important species to breed.

HOW CAN I GET INVOLVED? This is why we are inviting you to sign up for a FREE home water and energy saving visit worth over £130. Join your community today by signing up for a free water saving visit to reduce your impact on the environment and save money. Call us now on 0800 369 9933 to sign up. Alternatively email us with your telephone number and address at demand.planning@eswater.co.uk

You may see the plumbers driving around Barking or parked outside customers homes so you will know others are taking part.

As I said, we will be providing updates on this Portal so please do keep checking to keep up to date. Also, please feel free to post a comment if you like and we will get back to you as soon as we can. Groundworks and Essex & Suffolk Water employees will be out and about in the community with events stands and engaging with community groups so if you see us come and say hello.  If you would like to talk to us about how you can get involved either phone 0800 369 9933, visit www.eswater.co.uk/everydropcounts or email us at demand.planning@eswater.co.uk

Kind regards

Tim