00:00Hot weather has become part of everyday life across the West Midlands in recent weeks,
00:05and it's now placing record pressure on the region's water supply.
00:10Seven Trent says demand has reached the highest level in the company's history,
00:14as households use much more water during the continuing spell of exceptionally warm weather.
00:20The company says daily demand has risen by around 400 million litres above normal levels,
00:26exceeding previous records set during the drought of 2022 and the coronavirus pandemic.
00:34The firm supplies millions of homes and businesses across Birmingham, the wider West Midlands and beyond.
00:40Now, although there are no hosepipe restrictions in place,
00:43Seven Trent says it wants customers to help keep it that way.
00:47Its teams say they are treating more water, moving supplies around the network
00:51and repairing leaks at record levels to meet demand.
00:54The company is asking people to make a few simple changes,
00:58including using a watering can instead of a sprinkler,
01:01allowing lawns to recover naturally during the dry spell,
01:04reusing paddling pool water on gardens where appropriate,
01:08and only running washing machines and dishwashers with full loads.
01:12Weather forecasters say the hot, dry conditions are expected to continue for now,
01:16meaning demand is likely to remain unusually high.
01:20Seven Trent says small changes by large numbers of households
01:23can make a significant difference in helping maintain reliable water supplies across the region.
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