South West Water says there are a number of misconceptions that could be preventing you from trying to use less water

Most of us have instant access to fresh water, which may be why some people tend to take the precious resource for granted.

But after eight months of extreme heat across the UK with the lowest levels of rainfall for nearly a century in July, it’s important we try to save water to protect the environment and conserve it for future generations.

Every year, South West Water urges every Westcountry resident to save water and help conserve valuable supplies.

Spokesperson Mark Hillson said: "Our customers constantly surprise us with their ingenious ways to save water.

"But there are also many misconceptions about why we ask you all to save water. Things like, 'We live on a very rainy island - water’s everywhere!', 'We’re not the ones using it all - it’s the tourists!', and 'I pay for it, so I’ll use as much as I like!'"

So we asked Mark to address some of the more prevalent myths and misconceptions that could be preventing you from trying to use less water.

Looking at satellite images of the Earth, it’s not surprising that many people believe we’ll never run out of water.

Mark said: "Yes, most of the planet is blue but not all that water is drinkable. In fact, only 1% of all the water on our planet is accessible freshwater. Some of the freshwater is held in the ice-caps, but we don’t want them melting any time soon!

"Freshwater is a lot cheaper to clean and treat to the standard of tap water we’re used to in this country. Treating salty water (desalination) uses a lot more energy and is therefore a much more expensive operation.

"So, that 1% is all we’ve got if we’re to be sustainable. But 1% for a rising global population that’s demanding more and more of it, is not a lot.

"We’re aware of that, and even though it’s very unlikely we’re going to run out of water tomorrow, we have to start reducing how much we use today to protect our rivers, wildlife and environment for the future."

Sometimes it can feel like it rains all the time - especially on those weekends you’ve planned a barbecue.

Mark said: "In reality, over the past year we’ve seen less rainfall than average. As a result, The Environment Agency has reported that river flows across Cornwall and Devon have recently ranged from ‘below normal’ to ‘notably low’ for the time of year.

"If you saw your local river low would you think about the water coming out of your kitchen tap?

"But it’s all connected - the more tap water we use, the less is left in the environment. And with the environment naturally running low, it’s more important than ever that we save water this year."

Those of us who live in the South West are incredibly aware of the effects tourism has on the region. At the peak of the season, the population of the area almost doubles, and not surprisingly, so does the demand for water.

Mark said: "We actually plan for these peaks every year and our people work incredibly hard, monitoring the water resources and moving water around our network to meet the demand at all hours of the day.

"But they’ve noticed that the average demand, even without the tourists, is higher now than it ever has been. So, even if we had no visitors to the area, we’d still be asking you to save water.

"The 1% of available water isn’t going to change - it’s the same amount of water that was available to the dinosaurs - so to tackle the demand rise, we all have a role to play."

If you’re on a water meter, you’re charged for the water you use. That’s it. So, if you use less water, you’ll be charged less.

Mark said: "Our bills are now the lowest they have been for 10 years, so saving water will only further reduce the amount you’re paying.

"We also provide water-saving devices, completely free of charge, to help you tackle how much water you use.

"From shower heads to toilet buffalos that reduce the amount used in a flush, you can make significant savings without changing your routine - and without any additional cost."

The South West Water leakage team works around the clock to detect and repair leaks across the region.

Mark said: "We’re using the latest tech and employing more people to tackle leaks across the region.

"We’ve got 140 leak detectors – engineers, planners, analysts – working around the clock.

"We find and fix about 2,000 leaks a month but 30% of leaks are on customers' pipes and that’s why we’re now offering to fix those for free."

Saving water benefits you in so many ways – reducing your bill so you have more to spend on what really matters; protecting the environment so you can still go paddleboarding, swimming, canoeing and walking along your rivers; and making sure there’s enough water to go round for future generations.

Every drop saved makes a big difference.

Keep the water flowing for everyone, rivers thriving, and save money this summer... For more useful water-saving tips, see the South West Water website.

South West Water offers a range of free, and subsidised, water-saving products on the Save Water Save Money website. You can order buffaloo bags that save water with every flush, shower and tap inserts that aerate and reduce the amount of water used, shower timers and more.