Yorkshire Water says customers should try and avoid using hosepipes - despite no official ban

Earlier in the summer, under-fire chief executive Nicola Shaw told The Yorkshire Post: “I absolutely do not expect to have a hosepipe ban in Yorkshire this summer.”

Yorkshire Water has said customers should try and avoid using hosepipes - even though no ban is in place - and take shorter showers, amid the latest heatwave.

The embattled water company has sent out a message urging people to use water wisely, with the region set to be roasted this week.

It added that people should turn off the tap while brushing their teeth, keep a jug of water in the fridge rather than running the tap until it is cold and reuse water from paddling pools or the washing up to water plants.

Today, Debbie Feldhaus, head of strategic water resources and regional planning at Yorkshire Water, said: “Small changes can make a big difference.

“Whether it’s using a watering can instead of a hosepipe, taking shorter showers or only putting the washing machine and dishwasher on when they’re full, every drop saved helps us protect our water resources now and for the future.”

The National Drought Group moved Yorkshire into prolonged dry weather status on Monday, the stage before drought.

The mercury is set to rise above 30C this week, with some parts of the region having seen less than a millimetre of rain in the last month.

Reservoir levels dropped down to 58 per cent, well below the 74 per cent average for this time of year.

Yorkshire Water said that in previous heatwaves usage hit 1.55bn litres per day, with an increase of 220m litres.

That is the equivalent to Leeds, Harrogate and Halifax’s daily supply, according to the company.

Ms Feldhaus added: “This is the fifth heatwave of the summer, and we know that when temperatures rise, so does demand for water.

“With temperatures set to rise above 30C in the region, we’re preparing for a significant increase in water usage, which will put pressure on our network

“Our teams are working hard to manage supplies and ensure we can continue providing a reliable supply to our customers.

“But we are also asking everyone to play their part, use water wisely, and save it where possible.

“Our region is now in prolonged dry weather status, reflecting the hot, dry spring and summer we’ve had in the region.

“Our reservoir stocks are higher than they were at this time last year, but with water demand at all time highs and no sign of significant rain in the forecast, it is important we all try to make small changes to our water use habits.”

Last year, Yorkshire had a hosepipe ban for more than six months, from June to December, with the region in drought for most of that time.

This year, Yorkshire is one of only two areas not to be in drought, despite the hottest July on record.

The firm has made major strides in recent years about stopping leakage, and thanked customers with new smart meters for helping save 14m litres a day.