Severn Trent reservoir levels ‘look promising’

Following one of the driest summers on record, Severn Trent has revealed its reservoirs across the region are looking healthier and recovering after storage levels dropped significantly.

The water company said in Derwent Valley, Derbyshire the remains of the village from when the reservoir was created could be seen for the “first time in years” after the dry spell.

Severn Trent pumped an extra 300 million litres of water into supply every day as people used “much more water” than usual in the hot weather.

After “carefully managing” levels through the winter, Severn Trent said its reservoirs are bouncing back and in some places are full.

Work was carried out across the region to maximise water storage, including schemes to get more water into reservoirs when it rains.

A “decent amount” of rainfall has also contributed to the company going into summer “in a much healthier” position than expected.

Earlier this month Severn Trent was granted a drought permit by the Environment Agency, allowing it to take more water from Foremark and Staunton Harold reservoirs until the end of March.

Marcus O’Kane, water resources manager, at Severn Trent, said: “As our reservoirs across the region are looking healthy again, we’re feeling more confident that we’re going into the summer in a good position.

“But, as we’ve heard from Sir James Bevan, chief executive of the Environment Agency, as we go forwards, increases in population and climate change are going to bring much more demand for the finite water resources we have. So, we all need to do everything we can, starting now, to reduce our demand for this precious resource.”

O’Kane said the company is using various forms of technology such as satellites and drones to fix “leaks faster” as it plans to meet Ofwat’s leakage reduction challenge of 15 per cent by 2025 and the sector’s commitment to reduce leakage by 50 per cent by 2050.

“We’re investing in and making better use of our more sustainable water resources and we’re improving the resilience and flexibility of our pipe network, which will allow us to move water around from those areas that have more, to those that have less,” he said.

Severn Trent continues to ask customers “to do their part” to reduce per capita consumption, which Waterwise has challenged the sector to push harder on.

O’Kane said: “To make a change, we all need to be in this together. In the UK, the average amount of water used per person per day is 140 litres, yet in parts of Denmark they use only 80 litres, so it is absolutely possible.”

The company has been encouraging customers to explore water saving tips on its website.