As England faces its driest start to spring since 1956, Affinity Water is asking its customers to join in a collective effort to use water wisely and help preserve our precious natural environment.
The first three months of 2025 saw significantly below-average rainfall across much of the country. The Environment Agency has confirmed that river flows and soil moisture levels are well below normal for this time of year, with little meaningful rain forecast in the short term. While our groundwater sources remain in a healthy position, prolonged dry weather is expected to induce a large and prolonged recession of groundwater levels in the next months.
At Affinity Water, around 65% of the water we supply comes from underground chalk aquifers, a unique and sensitive natural resource that not only supplies our homes but also supports the delicate ecosystems of chalk streams, a globally rare habitat mostly found in southern England.
Dry weather affects these aquifers more slowly than rivers or reservoirs, and they are typically replenished by sustained rainfall. That’s why, even at this early stage, we are actively preparing and monitoring conditions closely. We have a robust Drought Management Plan in place to ensure we can continue to provide water reliably, while also minimising the environmental impact of our operations.
What we’re seeing now:
- This spring is the driest since 1956, according to the Environment Agency.
- Groundwater levels in our region are currently above average but are declining faster than usual for this time of year.
- On average, our customers use 157 litres of water per person, per day, compared to the national average of 145 litres.
- Our goal is to help customers reduce usage to 125 litres per person per day.
We’re not introducing any water restrictions right now, such as hosepipe bans, and based on current conditions, we don’t expect to. We will continue to monitor our water resources closely. Customers can find more information about our water resources on our website.
Spokesperson from Affinity Water, explains:
“We constantly monitor our groundwater levels and compare them to specific drought triggers. This enables us to put in place measures early, whether that’s increasing our operational resources or taking steps to reduce demand, so we can stay ahead of potential issues. By being proactive, we aim to protect both our customers and the natural environment from the more serious impacts of drought.”
Small changes at home can make a big difference. By reducing how much water we each use, we not only help protect local rivers and aquifers, but we also lower energy bills and reduce carbon emissions linked to water treatment and pumping.
Here are some easy ways to make a big impact:
- Turn off the tap while brushing your teeth – it can save 6 litres a minute.
- Only run washing machines and dishwashers with full loads.
- Use a watering can instead of a hosepipe in the garden.
- Fix dripping taps – one drip per second wastes over 5,000 litres a year.
- Take shorter showers – even cutting one minute can save 10 litres each time.
We know our customers care about the environment, and together we can ensure that the water we all rely on continues to flow – not just for us, but for the wildlife and ecosystems that depend on it too.
By making small changes now, you’re helping to protect supplies through the summer and beyond. Let’s act today so we can avoid restrictions tomorrow.
Visit www.affinitywater.co.uk/savewater for practical tips, tools, and advice to make every drop count.