\n United Utilities, based in Great Sankey, Warrington, is promoting the use of water butts as a simple and effective way to conserve water.\n<\/p>\n
\n The company says using water butts helps reduce demand on mains supplies, particularly during dry weather.\n<\/p>\n
\n Katy Bevan, from United Utilities\u2019 rainwater management team, said: “A typical house roof gathers around 30,000 litres of rainwater every year \u2013 that\u2019s equivalent to 300 bathtubs of water.\n<\/p>\n
\n “A water butt is a great way to stop that from running away down the drain and collect it for use in the garden.\n<\/p>\n
\n “As well as saving users money, rainwater is known to be the best option for plant growth and nourishment.”\n<\/p>\n
\n Over the past two years, United Utilities has distributed more than 1,600 water butts to customers, community groups, schools, and allotments across the North West to promote water efficiency.\n<\/p>\n
\n Collectively, these water butts can store more than 344,000 litres of rainwater at any one time.\n<\/p>\n
\n The company estimates that using a hosepipe consumes around 1,000 litres of water per hour, costing nearly \u00a35 for every hour of use.\n<\/p>\n
\n The reminder comes at a time of ongoing low rainfall, which has left regional reservoir levels at just 62.6 percent\u2014down from over 90 percent this time last year.\n<\/p>\n
\n Ms Bevan said: “With periods of intermittent rain upon us, now really is the perfect time to install a water butt to collect and store a supply of lovely, free rainwater ready to use when the weather turns dry again.”\n<\/p>\n
\n Water butts also help divert rainwater away from the sewer system, reducing the risk of surface water flooding during heavy downpours.\n<\/p>\n
\n United Utilities has supplied water butts to a range of communities and organisations.\n<\/p>\n
\n In Cheshire\u2019s Nether Peover, more than 40 households received dual-use water butts with a total capacity of over 7,000 litres.\n<\/p>\n