Keep river flowing!

River group urges everyone to help keep river flowing

Action for the River Kennet is urging everyone in the Kennet Valley be water smart as another hot weekend approaches. Local meteorologist Eric Gilbert recorded just 5.3mm of rain in Marlborough in June 2018, which is just 1/10th of normal June rainfall.

At the same time Thames Water experienced their highest water demand day ever last Sunday.

Charlotte Hitchmough from Action for the River Kennet said ‘no one wants to see a situation where the rivers run dry, but we can all help to avoid reaching that point by using only the water we need.’

In the Kennet Valley, the average customer uses 143 litres a day, if everyone in the valley saved 10 litres of water daily we could save up to 3 million litres every day – and every drop we save will be left in the river to support the wildlife that lives there.

By taking simple small actions we can all make a real difference.

• Take shorter shower – a four minute shower will on average use 40 litres of water, half what a bath would use.

• Fixing leaks and drips – a single leaky loo can waste 400 litres of water a day.

• Don’t leave the hose running – a running hose uses 1,000 litres of water an hour. Water gardens in the evening when it’s cool, and only water where it’s needed.

ARK will be at the Newbury Waterways Festival this Sunday 8th July, with free water saving gadgets to give away, as well as lots of information about the River Kennet. Or head over to Thames Water’s website and order free water saving gadgets from there: www.thameswater.co.uk/Be-water-smart

More information: Charlotte Hitchmough Action for the River Kennet: 07880 515859

Newbury Waterways Festival, Victoria Park, Newbury, Sunday 8th July 10.30 – 4.30