More water in South West reservoirs than last year

South West Water advises fixing leaks, but makes no comment on bathing together

The south west's reservoirs are holding up well in the summer heat.  The Exeter-based company says there's more water in its reservoirs than at this time 12 months ago, and people have used less water this week than they did during the first week of July.

On Friday 13th - never a day when you expect good news - they said reserves were at 78.4 per cent: more than four percentage points higher than a year ago. Levels in smaller, local reservoirs reflect the ongoing lack of rainfall, they say, but they're keeping an eye on things. They're thanking people who've used water wisely. If you've kept a sprinkler on your garden most of the day, they haven't passed comment.

They've published tips for conserving water in the tropical weather, but it doesn't involving taking a bath with a friend. In fact, they don't want you to bathe at all, preferring showers as the eco-friendly way of keeping clean. Here's their list:

In the garden:

• Use a watering can instead of a hose
• If your garden needs watering, do so early morning or evening to reduce evaporation
• Use a bucket and sponge instead of a hose to clean your car (or leave it for another week – it’s only going to get dusty!)
• Use any remaining water from your water butt first

In the home:

• Turn off the tap while brushing your teeth
• Keep a jug of water in the fridge so you don’t have to run your tap cold
• Use a bowl for washing up / rinsing fruit and veg – then use this water for plants   
• Have a shower instead of a bath
• Only use your dishwasher or washing machine when you have a full load (this will save money on your energy bills too)
• Only fill the kettle with as much water as you need (this will save energy too)
• Fix leaking taps and toilets