Although rain is predicted to arrive soon, Essex & Suffolk Water is appealing to customers to continue to use water wisely and help protect the environment, after the driest week across the UK since April.
Although there is no need for a hose pipe ban, a considerable amount of rainfall is required to help the reservoirs that supply Essex & Suffolk Water customers to fully recover, following one of the hottest and driest summers on record.
According to the Met Office, so far in 2025, there has been just 49 per cent of the normal average rainfall in Essex. Between 1 January and 13 October there has been 293mm of rainfall compared to 595mm, based on a 30-year average between 1991 and 2020.
Environmental experts in the company have noticed the difference, with ponds drying up early, affecting amphibians and insects such as dragonflies, wildflower-rich grasslands being very dry and leaves on the trees turning brown earlier than usual.
Customers can help by showing restraint with their water usage and using water wisely.
Kieran Ingram, Water Director, said: “Even with rain, recovery doesn’t happen overnight, and we need our customers to understand the impact that months of below average rainfall has had on our water stocks.
“Our teams have worked throughout the summer to make sure the taps kept running and paddling pools were filled, but the autumn winter season is when water stocks are replenished, and a lot of rainfall is needed to make up the shortfall.
“However, the weather is out of everyone’s control. So instead, we are appealing to our customers to continue to show restraint and help us save water. We are doing all we can from our side, with extra teams in place to repair leaks, leading to a saving of seven million litres compared to 2024.
“But now it is essential that we work with our customers to make a difference and help reduce the chance of restrictions being implemented in future. We always say the smallest changes make the biggest difference, but they really do – and the less we use now, the better prepared we’ll be for the months ahead — and the better off our environment will be.”
The water company has also been doing its bit, going out and about fixing leaks, with an average of 177 leaks repaired every week of 2025.
To ease the pressure on water networks, the water company has increased the amount of people on the ground finding and fixing leaks. This increase in repairs has led to a drop in leakage, of seven million litres per day, compared to 2024.
For water saving tips and advice, go to the website: Water saving tips