Residents of the Southwest are encouraged to reduce their shower time to conserve the water supply.
South West Water says it wants people to try to save five liters of water a day in order to maintain reservoir levels.
The company said soaring temperatures, rising visitor numbers and more people moving through the area are to blame.
He adds that because the start of summer has been dry and people “need to help save water where they can”.
A South West Water spokesperson said: ‘We closely monitor our reservoirs throughout the year to ensure we have enough water for all of our customers and up to 10 million additional users so that people come to enjoy the beautiful southwest during the summer months.
“We always ask customers to think about their water usage to not only help save water, but also reduce bills.”
“On average, a person uses 150 liters of tap water per day, and if each of our customers saved just 5 liters per day, that would add up to a total of 10 million liters saved.”
Surface water sources, such as reservoirs and rivers, provide around 90% of the region’s water supply and the banning of garden hoses has come closer in recent years.
How to save water while gardening?
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Use a water catcher to collect rainwater – it could fill with water for free 300 times a year
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Use a watering can instead of a garden hose
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It is best to water the plants early in the morning or in the evening, as they will take longer to evaporate.
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If there’s a dry spell, your lawn won’t look as lush, but it will recover when it rains again. If it needs mowing, set your lawn mower to cut higher and leave the clippings where they fall to act as mulch.
How to save water at home?
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Turn off the faucet while you brush your teeth
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Keep a carafe of water in the fridge so you don’t have to run your cold tap
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Use a bowl to wash/rinse fruits and vegetables – then use this water for plants
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Take a shower instead of a bath
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Only use your dishwasher or washing machine when you have a full load (this will also save you money on your energy bills)
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Only fill the kettle with the amount of water you need (this will also save energy)
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Fix leaky faucets and toilets
