South West Water asks customers to save more water as reservoirs stay low

South West Water asked customers on 12 October 2022 to do more to save water, saying reservoir levels across Cornwall and parts of Devon remain exceptionally low and continue to drop. The company said further restrictions under its Drought Plan may follow if the prolonged dry weather continues and demand does not fall¹.

Jo Ecroyd, the company's Drought Director, said the South West had experienced its fourth driest period since records began more than 130 years ago, alongside the hottest temperatures ever recorded in the region that summer. She said the company is working around the clock to fix more leaks across its network than ever before and to give customers advice and tools to cut their usage¹.

The company said the Met Office was not currently forecasting significant and sustained rain into the autumn months, and that it expected continued and serious pressure on reservoir levels over the winter. It said it was working with the Environment Agency and exploring all options, including further restrictions in line with its Drought Plan, particularly in areas where temporary restrictions have already been applied¹.

The company did not set out in this update which specific restrictions might follow, when any decision would be taken, or which areas would be affected beyond Cornwall and parts of Devon. Those details have not been reported¹.

Why it matters for households

Households in Cornwall and parts of Devon are affected now, with the company asking residents and visitors to reduce the amount of water they use. The company states that without sustained rainfall, reservoir levels will stay exceptionally low for the foreseeable future, and that further restrictions under its Drought Plan remain possible over the winter¹. How drought plans set out the stages of restriction, and how customers can have a say, is covered in Water Company Drought Plans: What They Say and Your Say. Practical ways to cut use at home are set out in How to Save Water at Home When Supplies Are Low, and the wider picture is covered in the heatwaves and drought hub and the water hub.

The company's advice, as given in its update, is that people living in or visiting the South West do all they can now to reduce the amount of water they use¹. It also says it is providing customers with advice and tools to cut their usage¹.

What happens next

South West Water says it is taking all measures possible to protect water supplies, which may include further restrictions in line with its Drought Plan, and that it is working closely with the Environment Agency, especially in areas where temporary restrictions already apply¹. No date has been given for any decision on further restrictions¹.