Water company urges conservation amid heatwave

The utility company Hofor is calling on all its customers to conserve water as high temperatures persist. The company warns that if current consumption levels continue, the water supply in the capital region could face shortages.

"We are using a lot of water right now, and it is straining the water supply. If the high consumption continues, we face the prospect of water shortages in the capital region," stated Anne Scherfig, area manager for water planning at Hofor. Hofor provides water, heating, and natural gas to approximately one million people in the region.

Scherfig explained that while Hofor can currently meet demand, a problem could arise if a waterworks facility is forced to shut down or if dry weather intensifies, leading to even higher water usage. To mitigate this, Hofor is advising residents to reduce water use, especially in their gardens. Recommendations include not watering lawns, as grass will recover with rain, and using a watering can instead of a hose, which consumes about 12 liters of water per minute.

Further advice includes opting for small paddling pools over large garden pools, as the largest pools can use as much water as a single Dane consumes in half a year. Indoors, Hofor suggests using economy settings on washing machines and dishwashers, taking shorter showers, and turning off the tap while brushing teeth. Denmark is expecting temperatures to exceed 30 degrees Celsius on Friday, with potential for record-breaking heat over the weekend, possibly surpassing the June record of 35.5 degrees Celsius set in 1947.

“

Vi bruger rigtig meget vand i øjeblikket, og det presser vandforsyningen. Hvis det høje forbrug fortsætter, så har vi udsigt til vandmangel i hovedstadsområdet.