Severn Trent has produced an extra 400 million litres of water a day since Tuesday to help keep the Midlands hydrated during the heatwave.
Temperatures reached nearly 38°C on Thursday 25 June, and the company says it is producing around 20% more water than usual, enough extra to supply almost three million people.
As people are staying up later to enjoy the World Cup matches, the company has noticed that more water is being used late into the evening as people prepare for bed, water their plants, and do more tasks at home when the weather is cooler.
Despite rain being forecast for the weekend, with schools off and more people at home reaching for the paddling pools, the company is advising people to cover any paddling pools instead of refilling them, and then use the water on plants and flowers when finished.
It also says grass and gardens are resilient, so they will bounce back quickly when the wetter weather returns.
Doug Clarke, Water Resources Lead at Severn Trent, said: “This is the type of weather my teams plan for all year round, and we’re producing record amounts of water to help keep the Midlands hydrated during the heat.
“With schools closing and families using paddling pools to stay cool, covering the pool and using a bucket to rinse feet instead of a tap are simple ways to make the most of the water. When you’re finished, it can easily be used on flowers too.”
Severn Trent has teams ready to respond quickly to any network issues, supported by a fleet of nearly 100 tankers if needed. The company said reservoirs are currently just under 90% full, with water taking around 12 hours to be treated and supplied to customers’ homes for them to enjoy.
Doug added: “Naturally, in this heat, a lot of water is being used very quickly, and we are working hard to meet that demand so that our customers can stay safely hydrated and cool in the heat. Water is so precious, and heatwaves like this highlight its importance in making sure people have what they need to keep cool and hydrated.”
