Families are being encouraged to visit Severn Trent's visitor sites throughout August as the reservoirs open their summer treasure hunts.

The FREE activities, taking place at Carsington, Draycote and Tittesworth Water are open to all, making it the perfect opportunity to get children out and exploring nature around the reservoirs, while looking for clues and finding answers to uncover the hidden treasure.

Visitors can collect a treasure trail sheet from the Visitor Centres and start their quest around the reservoir, with prizes up for grabs at the end of the summer for some of the lucky treasure finders.

The trails are open from 1^st-31^st August and available between the hours of 10am and 4pm; the treasure trails are best suited for ages 8-12, but all can take part with some support – remember to bring a pen or pencil!

Donna Marshall, Senior Visitor Engagement Officer at Severn Trent said: “We want everyone to be able to make the most out of our beautiful visitor sites, especially during the summer holidays.

“There are lots of great prizes to be won - once you’ve completed the treasure hunt just pop your sheet into the box to be entered into the draw.”

There are a number of other activities to get involved in across Severn Trent's visitor sites, including fishing, sailing and bird watching, providing the perfect opportunity for more family activities.

The on-site restaurants, which overlook the reservoirs, have a number of different food options and is the perfect place to relax after a morning full of fun.

Each site also offers a large variety of managed water sports, including sailing, meaning there is something for all those adrenaline lovers to enjoy.

Severn Trent wants visitors to enjoy the experience of visiting their reservoirs, however it’s important that they do so safely and so Severn Trent is reminding its visitors to stay out of the water.

Although reservoirs are beautiful and scenic sites, there are hidden dangers visitors can’t see- such as extremely cold water, strong currents and machinery below the surface.

Customers are also being reminded that it has been one of the driest and sunniest spring and start to summer in many years and with that there’s of course less water in the rivers and reservoirs.

To help there are some simple steps that customers can take to make sure that water is being used in the right way this summer which are: 

1. Turn Off Taps When Not in Use – Did you know that a running tap uses over SIX litres of water every minute. So, by turning them off while you brush your teeth, you’ll be saving over 12 litres of water. Similarly, if you’re washing the dishes, filling the bowl with water rather than having a running tap will help to save water. 

1. Collect Rainwater – Water butts are a great way to store rainwater in your garden for you to use on plants and your grass. Your roof collects enough rainwater to fill a water butt 450 times a year, allowing you to ditch the hose and save hundreds of litres of water. 

1. Fix Leaks Promptly – We often find people tend to put off getting leaks fixed, yet even small leaks can waste significant amounts of water. So regularly check your taps, showerheads and toilets for leaks and repair them as soon as possible. For more information on leak-detecting, visit - How to check for a leak | Leakage | My Supply | Severn Trent Water

1. Use Water-Efficient Fixtures – We all love a refreshing shower, but some showers use A LOT more water than others, so consider installing water-saving devices such as efficient showerheads or dual-flush toilets which do the same job while using less water. 

1. Try a shower timer – Showers are one of the largest users of water in a household. And while you might love singing through your setlist while washing the suds out of your hair, a shower timer might just keep you on track to spend less time in there. Not only will that help lower you water bill, but it could also cut your energy bill – and your neighbour’s ears will also benefit! 

1. Run Full Loads – Dishwashers are much more energy and water efficient and can save even more water and energy by selecting cooler and shorter wash cycles and by only using them when it is full, can be more efficient than washing dishes by hand. Similarly, only using your washing machine on a full load will mean less cycles and less water used. 

1. Get a water meter – Once installed, most customers make a conscious effort to use less water once they switch to a water meter. The meters mean you’ll only ever pay for what you use, putting you in charge of your bills. To see if you can apply, visit - Apply for a water meter | My water meter | My Account | Severn Trent Water
   
   For more information about our visitor sites, visit the Severn Trent website.