A NEW initiative hoping to stop water being wasted in households in our area has officially launched in Witham.

Friday afternoon saw the official launch of Essex and Suffolk Water's Every Drop Counts initiative and to celebrate a giant sculpture was unveiled in Witham town centre by town mayor JoAnn Williams.

More than 15,000 customers are set to receive a letter from the company in the coming weeks proposing an audit of showers, taps and toilets to try and eradicate water wastage.

Martin Lunn, head of technical strategy for Essex and Suffolk, said: "We have to make sure we use every tool available to a water company during the summer months - when demand for high quality drinking water is at its peak, - and helping customers to use less water is a valuable way to ensure there is enough for everyone to use.

“Essex & Suffolk Water has found home visits and the fitting of devices to our customers’ taps, toilets and showers to be one of the most effective ways to remind people about the importance of conserving this precious resource during the hotter months."

Nicci Russell, managing director of Waterwise unveiled the sculpture on Friday.

She said: “It's really important that we all use water wisely, every day, everywhere, to make the water we have go as far as we can - for people, the economy and the environment.

"Community projects like Essex & Suffolk Water’s Every Drop Counts, here in Witham - in one of the driest parts of the UK - play a really important role in saving water.

"I’m delighted to support this award-winning scheme and look forward to everyone in Witham getting behind it. We all have a role to play."

The statue remained on Witham's Newland Street until Sunday.

Approved and fully qualified plumbers will call at homes by appointment in Witham and can fit water saving devices.

Visit www.eswater.co.uk/everydropcounts.