AS temperatures continue to rocket around the Midlands this week, water bosses are urging residents to stay cool by being water-wise in the home and garden.

Severn Trent Water has revealed that while reservoir levels remain high at about 80 per cent, water consumption during last week's hot spell increased by 200 million litres - the equivalent of supplying an extra 800,000 people every day.

The company is expecting usage to soar even higher, especially with temperatures set to hit a record 35 degree mark by today.

With that in mind, Severn Trent is reminding customers to make every drop count and remember some top tips to keep consumption down.

Senior operations manager Fraser Pithie said: "We've done everything possible to make sure we have enough to see us through this long hot summer. But we're seeing abnormally high levels of overnight usage across the Midlands. That indicates some people are leaving sprinklers on through the night." Normal water usage during the night is only a very small fraction of daytime consumption, but in some areas usage levels between 9pm and 11pm have been as high as those during the day.

Customers are being urged to avoid using a sprinkler where possible and recycle dishwater to water plants and try not to leave the tap on while brushing teeth, washing hands or shaving.

Severn Trent also advises people to use save-a-flush water-reducing devices in their toilet cistern, use a bucket and sponge as opposed to a hose to wash cars and keep a bottle of water in the fridge instead of running the tap until it goes cold.