Water-saving message shared at Hayes Green WI meeting
WI learns more about the journey from tap to treatment
Twenty ladies from Hayes Green WI met at the Five Ways Inn in Heath Hayes on the evening of Tuesday, July 7, 2026, to hear from Lucy Farmer, an Education Officer with Severn Trent Water.
Lucy gave an interesting and informative talk, entertaining the ladies with her props, including an inflatable pretend toilet and bottles containing mock sewerage and clean drinking water. The realistic-looking sewerage samples had been prepared using everyday items such as coffee, cooking oil and sweetcorn.
Lucy shared a range of figures, explaining that Severn Trent Water serves 4.8 million homes and 8.7 million customers and, of all the water companies in the UK, covers the largest geographical region. She told the ladies about the processes used to ensure the water supplied to taps through the blue underground pipes is clean and safe to drink. She also explained that a drinking water treatment plant is never located in the same place as a sewage treatment works.
Lucy was proud to say that Severn Trent Water has achieved a four-star rating from the Environment Agency for the quality of the water it supplies to customers. She outlined the company's five-point plan, which is being delivered in partnership with other organisations to improve the water quality and health of the Rivers Severn and Trent.
She also told the group that 60 per cent of the energy used by Severn Trent Water is now generated from the waste products created during the sewage treatment process.
Midlanders were praised for being frugal with their water usage. On average, each Severn Trent Water customer uses 150 litres of water per day, which is less than customers in other parts of the UK. The ladies then discussed which household activities they thought used the most water and shared ideas for saving water to help the environment and reduce household bills.
Some of the Hayes Green members had also brought interesting water bottles from home to show the group.
The next meeting of Hayes Green WI will feature a talk on decluttering on Tuesday, August 4, at 7.30pm at the Five Ways Inn, 1 Hednesford Road, Heath Hayes, Cannock, WS12 3HU. New members are welcome to come along and give this friendly social group a try.