Conserving water and staying safe in the hot weather

With the demand for water massively increasing during the hot weather, we’re asking you to make small changes to the way that you use water to help make sure there’s enough water for everyone in our community during the heat-wave.

The hot and dry weather puts extra pressure on water systems. Thames Water have issued a high demand warning for High Wycombe, Aylesbury, Slough, and surrounding villages. This means people in these areas could experience low water pressure.

While it’s important to save water all year around, we’re suggesting some small changes you can make. These will have a big difference on how much water is available to everyone in the community, including schools, care homes, hospitals and GP surgeries, during this very hot weather.

Changes you should make include:

• turn the tap off when you brush your teeth (this can save up to nine litres of water a minute)
• shower for shorter times to avoid wasting water and energy (cutting your ten minute show by two minutes could save up to 20 litres of water)
• keep a bottle of drinking water in the fridge to make sure you always have cold water, to save running the tap until the water runs cold
• turn off the tap when washing up
• fill up your dishwasher before running it to maximise water usage
• brown lawns can bounce back quickly with the next rainfall. If you can, water your plants in the early morning or late evening, when it’s a bit cooler and water the roots rather than the leaves. This helps to avoid water evaporation. Thames Water are also asking you to take a break from using hosepipes in gardens and around the home if you can. It’s not a ban, but it will really help keep water in supply for everyone in the Wycombe, Aylesbury and Slough areas.
• check for leaks in taps and toilets

View more (nine popular tips) on the Energy Savings Trust website.

You can view current issues or report a loss of water on the Thames Valley website.

Hot weather can cause some people to become unwell from overheating (becoming uncomfortably hot), dehydration, heat exhaustion and heatstroke.

There is currently an amber heat health warning in place for England. A heat health warning is issued when temperatures are likely to impact on the health and wellbeing of the population.

There are things you can do to stay safe in hot weather:

• keep out of the sun at the hottest time of the day (between 11am and 3pm)
• if you are planning a physical activity (for example exercise or walking the dog) do this when it's cooler (in the morning or evening)
• keep your home cool by closing windows and curtains in rooms that face the sun
• if you do go outside, cover up with suitable clothing including a hat and sunglasses
• seek shade and apply sunscreen
• drink plenty of fluids to stay hydrated and limit your alcohol intake
• check on family, friends and neighbours who may be at higher risk of becoming unwell, and if you are at higher risk, ask them to do the same for you
• know the symptoms of heat exhaustion and heatstroke and what to do if you or someone else has them

View more information and advice on staying safe in hot weather (GOV.UK).

Summer months are associated with an increase in drowning accidents, so be careful near swimming pools, rivers, lakes, or the sea

The following advice can help to keep you safe when swimming:

• always look for warning and guidance signs
• only enter the water in areas with lifeguard cover
• never enter the water after drinking alcohol
• wear a buoyancy aid or life jacket if you are doing an activity out on the water or at the water’s edge such as boating or fishing
• be aware that open water can be much colder than it looks which can lead to cold water shock
• get out of the water as soon as you start to feel cold
• swim parallel with the shore, not away from it
• always go swimming with someone else so you can help each other out
• check Swimfo to look up details of a designated bathing water quality by name or location

You can view more information on safe summer swimming from the Royal Life Saving Society (RLSS).

View more about disruption to services due to adverse weather.

If you find yourself sleeping rough or you see anyone sleeping out on the streets of Buckinghamshire, contact StreetLink online or call 0300 500 0914. They will notify our dedicated Outreach workers.

If you see anyone you believe to be under the age of 18 and/or are concerned about the health or welfare of anyone that you see sleeping rough call 999.

During office hours you can contact our Housing Team on the following numbers:

• Aylesbury Vale area: 01296 585 168
• Chiltern, South Bucks and Wycombe areas: 01494 421 212

Out of office hours please call: 0800 999 7677