Yorkshire Water urges customers to limit water usage as climate change is 'driving extreme weather patterns'
“Last year we saw a fantastic response from customers, who took the restrictions on board, put the hosepipes down and started to make changes to their water usage habits”
Yorkshire Water bosses are urging customers to “think carefully about their water use” as drier summers continue to cause problems for reservoir levels.
The warning has come ahead of any major action as the utilities company assures residents that reservoirs are in a “much better position” than this time last year.
Currently, reservoir levels are at 75.7 per cent, compared to just 53.8 per cent in summer 2025.
However, as another heatwave rolls in, bringing highs of 32 degrees over the weekend with little chance of rain anytime soon, Yorkshire Water have warned that this may change - especially as they predict more than a billion litres of water will be used per day during the hot weather.
Andy Shaw, director of control, production and process at Yorkshire Water, said: “We’re experiencing another heatwave in the region this week and we’re urging customers to think carefully about their water use.
“In the last heatwave, we saw water usage increase by 190 million litres during the highest temperatures – which is what we supply to Leeds and Harrogate combined on a daily basis.
“We’re predicting demand to peak at more than 1.5 billion litres per day during this heatwave as temperatures rise.”
Mr Shaw claimed that there are “no expectations of hosepipe restrictions this summer” as work has been done to strengthen the network, with 250,000 smart meters installed to detect leaks and the replacement of 200km of water mains.
Yorkshire Water did however claim that people don’t realise how much water they really use, especially as Doncaster has already recorded a 24 per cent increase compared to average April consumption.
Environmental experts and industry leaders part of the Let’s Save Water campaign have warned of increasing pressures on water resources driven by climate change, population growth and rising demand.
They are encouraging simple behaviour changes – from taking shorter showers to fixing dripping taps – to reduce water use today and help protect supplies for future generations.
In Sheffield, it is expected to be as hot as 32 degrees on Friday (July 10), before dipping to highs of 28 degrees the following day.
Sunday and Monday, July 12 and 13, are expected to dip to 25 degrees, before rising again as next week continues.
No rain has been forecast for the next week.
Professor Lizzie Kendon, strategic head of climate processes and projections at the Met Office, explained: “More rainfall doesn’t automatically mean more usable water.
“Climate change is driving increasingly extreme weather patterns, with wetter winters, drier summers, and more intense bursts of rainfall. When rain falls on dry, hardened ground, much of it cannot soak into the soil where it is most valuable, instead it runs off and is being lost.
“This growing imbalance is placing mounting pressure on our water resources, and there is an urgent need for action. By acting now and embracing small, everyday changes, we can help safeguard this precious resource for future generations.”
Yorkshire Water insisted they didn’t want people to stop having fun in the summer, but instead be aware of water usage.
Mr Shaw added “Of course, people should get out and enjoy the sunshine in the back garden, but we’d ask people to make small tweaks to their usage to help save water and make sure there’s enough to go around.
“Things like using a watering can rather than a hose, if people are considering getting the paddling pool out for the kids, covering it over with a sheet overnight so it can be reused the next day, and letting grass go brown as it’ll bounce back when we get some rain, will all help.
“Last year we saw a fantastic response from customers, who took the restrictions on board, put the hosepipes down and started to make changes to their water usage habits.”