Brits in holiday hotspot told ‘have shorter SHOWERS’ to save water as 200k holidaymakers plan trips this summer
BRITS in a UK holiday hotspot have been ordered to take shorter showers to save water as over 200,000 visitors descend on the coast this summer.
Residents in Cornwall and Devon must save five litres of water a day to conserve the supply in reservoirs, South West Water (SWW) said.
The chaotic combination of more people moving to the region, the boom in staycations and scorching heatwaves have resulted in a drastic drain on water supplies.
And as the mercury is expected to hit 25C next week across the country, it is feared even more sun-worshippers will descend.
Up to 200,000 tourists are expected to descend on Cornwall this summer at any one time.
Tensions between locals and holiday homeowners in the west country have reached fever point in recent weeks.
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Natives are furious that the demand for seaside homes have sent house prices rocketing in Cornwall, with some properties even being vandalised in protest.
The strained relationship has now been further aggravated by the instructions to limit their water use.
SWW director for water resources Lisa Gahan told the BBC: “It’s been very dry over the last 12 months and while reservoir levels are good we have had lots of dry spells.
“More people are coming down on holiday and more people are living here.
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“We just want to make sure there’s enough water for everyone to enjoy.”
She explained that hose pipes could use 1,000 litres of water an hour, “so simple things like putting hoses away make a massive difference.”
The water services company said the hot weather and influx of holidaymakers would put pressure on Devon and Cornwall’s supply.
They emphasised they had advised people to limit water use to avoid restrictions, which were last implemented during a drought in 1976.
Ms Gahan added: “If we are careful we can have another year without any restrictions.”
We previously told how one woman from St Ives said she was about to be made homeless due to selfish tourists snapping up holiday homes.
Jasmin Or, 24, grew up in the beauty spot but claimed she feared she would have to sleep rough when her tenancy ended.
Landlords and businesses have been buying up properties in the area and converting them into summer homes, meaning there is nowhere left for locals to rent.
Cornwall Council said there is “an imbalance in supply and demand” that the county has never seen before.
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The housing problem was accelerated during the pandemic when staycations boomed.
Increased demand for second homes in the beach town drove prices up even further – with rent now being comparable to that in London.