Portsmouth Water is calling for local charities in West Sussex to get in touch to benefit from funds raised by households taking part in its water-saving campaign.

The company recently launched its Get Water Fit promotion, which is encouraging households to “Play their part and get water smart”.

As part of the campaign, Portsmouth Water customers can benefit from free water-saving advice and support, including free water-efficient devices and an individual online session with a water-saving expert, by visiting <a href="https://www.getwaterfit.co.uk" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">www.getwaterfit.co.uk</a> and entering their postcode.

Households can also earn virtual ‘coins’ for local charities by taking simple steps to reduce their water use. In just three months, households’ efforts to save water have raised £6,000 for three local charities in Hampshire – Rowans Hospice, Beacon Food Bank and Hampshire and Isle of Wight Air Ambulance.

The list of charities is updated every three months and Portsmouth Water is keen to hear from charities in its supply area in West Sussex which would like to be considered to help promote the campaign and benefit from the funds raised. The main areas the company supplies in West Sussex are Chichester, Bognor Regis and Littlehampton.

Portsmouth Water’s water-saving campaign is particularly important in this area as people tend to use much more water than elsewhere – typically, 154 litres per person per day, compared 127 litres elsewhere in the South East.

Water resources in the region are under pressure from population growth, house building, the impacts of climate change and the need to take less water from the environment to protect local streams and rivers and the wildlife which rely on them.

Jim Barker, Head of Water Resources at Portsmouth Water, said: “I’d really like to hear from local charities in West Sussex which would like to be part of and benefit from our water-saving campaign.

“I’d encourage households to get involved too. Not only will you be helping protect local rivers and streams but also local charities, many of which have found it challenging to raise funds during the past couple of years.

“Using less water also adds up to savings on water and energy bills, as well as reducing your carbon footprint – that’s because a third of energy in homes goes on heating water for washing, cooking and cleaning.”

Portsmouth Water is doing its bit to save water – last year, it drove down the amount of water lost through leaks on its pipes by nearly 20 per cent, to the lowest on record.

Charities can get in touch with Portsmouth Water by emailing <a href="mailto:head.office@portsmouthwater.co.uk">head.office@portsmouthwater.co.uk</a> marked for the attention of Get Water Fit.