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Yorkshire Water thanks customers for water-saving efforts

Swinsty Reservoir. (Image: Yorkshire Water)

Yorkshire Water has thanked customers for their water saving efforts in recent weeks, which has helped to reduce overall demand in the region.

The reduction in demand, combined with welcome rainfall, meant reservoir stocks dropped just 0.07% over the last week. 

Yorkshire’s reservoir stocks have been declining since late January due to the driest spring on record in Yorkshire and increased customer demand during warmer temperatures.  

According to the Met Office, spring 2025 was also the warmest spring for mean temperature since records began in 1884 and the second sunniest spring in England since sunshine records began in 1910. 

Recent rainfall has meant the region has seen 33% of long-term average rainfall in June.

The wet weather has rejuvenated the moisture levels in the ground, and rainfall is now beginning to make its way into reservoirs and rivers in the region. 

As a result, despite demand of 1.3 billion litres per day, reservoir levels fell by just 0.07% this week, compared to previous weekly drops of more than 3%.

Currently, reservoir stocks are at 62.8%, - still significantly below the average (85.5%) for this time of year. 

Dave Kaye, director of water at Yorkshire Water, said:

“We’ve had the driest spring on record in Yorkshire and the prolonged dry weather has had an impact on reservoirs and river levels here in Yorkshire.

"Our reservoir stocks have been declining since late January, which has been challenging to balance coupled with the increased customer demand for water we've seen during warmer temperatures. 

“The rainfall over the past 10 days has helped slow the fall of reservoir stocks, which are still at just under 63%, but stocks remain significantly below average for this time of year (85.5%).

"The rivers have also seen the benefit of rain, allowing us to manage our reservoir resources more effectively. 

“With more rain forecast over the coming weeks, we’re continuing to closely monitor the situation. We’re playing our part by finding and fixing leaks as quickly as we can, as well as continuing to balance our water supplies.

"We’d like to thank customers who have already taken steps to reduce their usage and continue to ask people in the region to only use the water they need to enable our reservoirs to refill, as this, combined with the wet weather, will help to build resilience and storage back into the system.”

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