Essex & Suffolk Water is reminding customers that a Temporary Use Ban remains in place as the region continues to face the impacts of prolonged dry weather.
Despite some recent rainfall, conditions remain challenging. September saw just 30mm of rain recorded across the region, following a prolonged period of dry weather throughout the summer and into autumn.
The water company is also thanking customers as their efforts have already made a difference, with water demand reducing by around 7% since the Temporary Use Ban was put in place.
However, they are urging people not to become complacent as autumn begins as reservoir levels still remain below average.
At the end of September, reservoir storage across Essex stood at just 44% full, well below the level expected for this time of year.
In an update from the Environment Agency, they said the country needs to receive around 120% of average rainfall over the next seven months for drought conditions to be fully overcome by next spring.
Kieran Ingram, Water Director at Essex & Suffolk Water, said: "We're incredibly grateful to customers for the efforts they've made so far. Reducing demand by around 7% is a fantastic achievement and shows the difference everyone can make when they work together.
"Although we've seen some rain recently, the Temporary Use Ban remains in place, and we still need customers to save as much water as possible. Reservoir levels are still much lower than we'd expect, and it will take a long period of significant rainfall before the situation improves.
"As we move into autumn, there are still plenty of ways people can continue to save water. Simple seasonal changes, such as using water butts to capture rainfall for use in the garden, fixing dripping taps and being mindful of everyday water use, can all help.
"Our focus is on ensuring we're in the strongest possible position for next year. Unless we see substantially wetter conditions over a sustained period, this challenge is likely to continue, and every litre saved now will help protect water supplies in the months ahead."
Alongside customers' efforts, Essex & Suffolk Water continues to take action to protect supplies across the region. This includes increasing leakage detection and repair activity, exploring opportunities to transfer water across its network, and carefully managing reservoir resources to help maintain supplies for customers.
Customers are encouraged to continue using water wisely and can find practical water-saving advice and information on www.eswater.co.uk/savewater.
