Appeal after 15% rise in water usage in Fife

Fifers have been urged to use water efficiently during hot weather after a 15 per cent rise in usage levels at the weekend.

Scottish Water made alterations to its network to keep water flowing to taps across the region.

However, coupled with increased usage levels in communities supplied by Glendevon and Glenfarg Water Treatment Works, this resulted in issues for customers in Kirkcaldy, Glenrothes, Lochgelly, Methil, Leven, St Andrews, Cupar and Tayport.

The surge increased the flow of water in the network as we kept up with need, particularly during the day. This led to a reduction pressure for some customers and discoloured water for many as additional flows lifted the natural sediment from the mains.

Kes Juskowiak, national water operations manager, said: “Our teams were working hard over the weekend to ensure we kept everyone in supply but also to minimise disruption.The balance of supply and demand has improved in Fife and the discolouration issue has now reduced. However, we continue to work on the issue and require your support in resolving this by reducing unnecessary demand.”

Scottish Water said it remained safe to use for drinking, washing and cooking. Customers were asked not to run their taps to try and resolve any discolouration.

The latest plea came just days after the utility asked customers across Scotland to only use the water that they need during the warmer weather.

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He said that with more people are spending more time in their gardens it was important they considered the amount of water they were using on things like washing their cars, watering grass and flowers and for any recreation.

Mr Juskowiak said: “From watering the garden with sprinklers and hoses, to filling up paddling pools, sometimes requiring thousands of litres to use, we are keen to not place further demand on the public water system at this time. We are urging people to be as efficient as possible with this natural and precious resource.”

While it is essential that people continue to follow Government advice regarding hand-washing during the Covid-19 pandemic, Scottish Water has outlined other ways in which customers can use water efficiently.

Simple, practical steps include:

·Using a watering can rather than a hose to water plants and grass (hoses and sprinklers use about 1000 litres of water an hour – more than 12 baths ad more than three average families’ use in a typical day)

·Not using jet washers – which use an average 36 litres of water

·Not to use paddling pools – which use an average 400 litres (if pools are used try quarter filling them and using the water to water your garden afterwards)

· Taking shorter showers

·Using a bucket and sponge rather than a hose to wash vehicles

·Using washing machines and dishwashers fully loaded

·Only boil the kettle with the water you need.

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Allan Crow, Editor, Fife Free Press