Families are being urged to conserve water by not filling up their wading pools to the brim, according to three water companies that are responsible for the waste of 7,500 litres of water every second.
Bristol Water, Northumbrian Water, and Severn Trent Water this week pleaded with consumers to save water as the record-breaking heat wave persists.
Bristol Water suggested that people not use paddling pools at all or plant ‘demanding flowers’ that need to be watered frequently.
Northumbrian Water urged families not to spill water from paddling pools in addition to advising them to refrain from washing their cars.
In order to lessen the possibility of waste, Severn Trent proposed reducing the water levels in paddling pools.
According to the industry group Water UK, the three corporations account for 654 million litres of the astounding 3.1 billion litres of water that water providers are projected to lose every day.
In contrast, a paddling pool of 7 feet by 4 feet and filled to a depth of 40 cms has a 400-liter capacity.
The combined yearly profits of the three water companies exceeded £530 million last year, and their chief executives received total compensation of more than $5 million.
During the 2022–23 fiscal year, according to estimates from Water UK, which represents the major suppliers, the average water bill in England and Wales will rise from £412 to £419 per month.
Last night, critics mocked the recommendations, pointing out that they would only save a tiny fraction of the water that businesses lose due to breaches in the 215,000 kilometres of pipes in Britain.
We Own It founder Cat Hobbs said: “Water firms’ duplicity is astonishing.”
We Own It advocates for publicly controlled water companies.
Despite spilling enough water to fill thousands of Olympic swimming pools, they claim that each drop is valuable.
Telling clients to be careful not to spill water is patronizing. We are being treated like fools by them.
Water bosses make a lot of money.
Instead of investing in infrastructure and repairing leaks, water companies are more concerned about compensating shareholders.
One of the largest water providers in the nation, Severn Trent, which supplies water to eight million people in the Midlands, posted their request on its website.
While acknowledging that “it’s pleasant to fill the paddling pool,” the message also advised against doing so.
For every inch the water level drops, you can save 30 litres of water.
Liv Garfield, the 47-year-old leader of the company, received a remuneration package worth £3.9 million last year, an increase of £830,000.
Every day, her business leaks 415 million litres of water, which is enough to fill almost a million wading pools. wife and mother of two It has been claimed that Ms. Garfield, who was appointed the youngest female CEO of a FTSE 100 company ever in 2014, has a £5.5 million house in London.
According to a spokeswoman, the company was committed to reducing leaks and was providing customers with “practical recommendations.”
Northumbrian Water, which serves about 4.5 million people in North East England, Essex, and Suffolk, advised its customers in an email: “If the paddling pool is out, don’t fill it to the top and allow it to run over.”
washing the automobile with a hosepipe; instead, let it alone or use a bucket.
Heidi Mottram, the company’s chief executive, said: “I’m on vacation right now” when questioned about how she explained the email with the 210 million litres of water lost by her company per day at her £1.25 million Grade II-listed home near York.
The Mail on Sunday was told to contact the company’s press office by Ms Mottram, who makes about £900,000 a year; we had already done so but received no answer.
A representative eventually stated: “We have significantly spent to help us decrease leaks.”
Bristol Water, which leaks 38 million litres per day, advised users to avoid using paddling pools on its website.
If so, try half-filling it, like you would with a bath, and use the leftover water to wash your car or water your plants.
Additionally, it advised growing drought-tolerant plants “such as lavender, hardy geraniums, and bearded irises.”
Mel Karam manages Bristol Water, one of Britain’s smallest businesses, and she makes only £230,000 a year.