Chelsea Flower Show may inspire gardeners in the south to spend bank holiday weekend nurturing their gardens. But green fingered types are being asked to spare a thought for the amount of water they’re going to use.

Despite April showers and May downpours, the Environment Agency in the south is still concerned about low water levels and is urging gardeners to think about the environment before getting the sprinkler out.

The South of England has had six consecutive months of below average rainfall – water we depend on to top up our reservoirs and groundwater for public water supply in the summer months. Some parts of the region have had only 60% of long-term average rainfall for November to mid-May.

The Environment Agency is working closely with Southern Water, South East Water, Mid Kent Water, Folkestone and Dover Water and Sutton and East Surrey Water. The aim is to make sure that water supplies are managed carefully without damaging the environment - but we can all do our bit to help.

The average garden sprinkler uses 1,000 litres of water an hour – more than a family of four uses in a day. Yet water is not a finite resource. All the water we use is taken from rivers, streams and groundwater. The more we use, the more the water companies will need to take, potentially leading to environmental problems.

Using a watering can instead of a sprinkler saves water, and using a water butt to collect rain for garden watering saves even more. If everybody used a water butt for garden watering instead of main water supply, enough water could be saved to supply 1/4 million people.

If the dry weather continues, water companies will be forced to impose restrictions, such as sprinkler and hose-pipe bans, to safeguard water supplies for next summer. Saving water at home and in the garden is important this summer, to help reduce the need for compulsory restrictions and limit damage to the environment.

Visit our website for Alan Titchmarsh’s top tips on how to save water in the garden and other tips on saving water at home: www.environment-agency.gov.uk/savewater