FIGURES released by South West Water show how demand for water skyrocketed in the region in July during the heatwave.

The company produced an extra 1,624 megalitres of water (1,624,000,000 litres – the equivalent of 650 Olympic-sized swimming pools) during the month compared to 2017.

Rob Scarrott, from the company, said: ‘Demand for water during July peaked on Wednesday, July 25, when we produced 554 megalitres – compared to 486 megalitres on July 25, 2017.