How the North West’s Water Supplies are Coping with the Heatwave (And How You Can Help)

We’ve all been enjoying the glorious warm and dry weather recently, but as the sunshine continues, many of us have been wondering: how are the region's water supplies holding up?

United Utilities has shared an update for the North West, and while the news is generally positive, it comes with an important call to action. Here is what is going on behind the scenes as the temperatures soar.


The Good News: Reservoirs are in a Good Place

Thanks to a wetter-than-average start to the year, our reservoirs started the summer with plenty of water in the bank. This puts the North West in a much stronger position compared to some other parts of the country experiencing severe shortages.

Because of this healthy buffer, United Utilities has confirmed that there is currently no need to impose any hosepipe bans or restrictions on water use.

Record-Breaking Demand

However, keeping the taps flowing smoothly during a heatwave is no small feat. As the sun has blazed down, demand for water has skyrocketed to record levels across the region.

It’s not just households filling up paddling pools or watering gardens, either. Demand is surging across multiple sectors:

• Businesses are using more water for industrial cooling.
• Farmers need extra supplies to keep crops and animals hydrated.
• The fire service is drawing heavily on water supplies to battle ongoing moorland fires in the Pennines.

At the peak of the recent heatwave, United Utilities was supplying over 2 billion litres of water a day across the North West. That is a massive 200 million litres more than usual—the equivalent of instantly adding a whole new city the size of Liverpool to the region's daily demand!


The Outlook: Use Water Wisely

While some much-needed rain is forecast in the coming days, the longer-term meteorological outlook suggests the dry weather is here to stay for a while.

To ensure our supplies remain secure and to avoid the need for restrictions later in the summer, United Utilities is asking everyone in the North West to play their part.

You don't need to make drastic changes—just a few simple habits can make a huge difference:

• Turn off the tap while brushing your teeth.
• Use a watering can instead of a hosepipe in the garden.
• Let lawns go naturally yellow (they bounce right back when it rains!).
• Fix any dripping taps or leaks around the home.

By making a few small adjustments now, we can all help protect our region's water supplies, ensuring there is plenty to go around for homes, businesses, agriculture, and emergency services for the rest of the summer.

How are you saving water during the heatwave? Let us know your top tips in the comments below!