A Nottinghamshire council has defended its decision to use a water sprinkler at a sports ground just days after a widespread shortage.
Residents across Ashfield, Mansfield and other parts of Nottingham have been hit with either no water or poor water pressure after Severn Trent struggled to keep up with demand between May 29 and June 2.
According to the supplier, residents across the Midlands used 300 million litres more per day than is normal for March - including a huge 40 percent rise in Ashfield.
However, images and videos shared on social media on Tuesday, June 2 showed large water sprinklers being employed at Kingsway Park in Kirkby-in-Ashfield - a decision Ashfield District Council has defended.
The council, which supported Severn Trent in providing emergency bottled water to residents who went without a supply, says water used to spray the park was sourced from an onsite pump - and not from the main water supply.
The council's comments come after Lee Anderson, Ashfield's Conservative MP, called on Ashfield District Council to apologise - saying the council was "oblivious" to the residents' issues.
"It is no secret that over the weekend hundreds of volunteers throughout Ashfield have rallied around to make sure our care homes, our elderly and our vulnerable get the water they need", Mr Anderson told Nottinghamshire Live.
"It has been an amazing effort from the brilliant people of Ashfield, and I want to thank each and every one of them.
"The same cannot be said for the council, which seems oblivious to the fact we have had hardly any water in Sutton, Kirkby or Huthwaite.
"To make matters worse, I had reports this morning that the council had turned sprinklers on at Kingsway Park in Kirkby.
"Just a few hundred metres away, Severn Trent had its water collection point to make sure the people of Kirkby get clean drinking water."
The council has told Nottinghamshire Live Mr Anderson's information is "incorrect", stressing that the water used on Kingsway Park was from its own, on-site water tank - not the mains supply used by households.
A spokesperson for the council said: "Residents may have seen incorrect information regarding Ashfield District Council watering the sports pitches on Kingsway Park, Kirkby, on social media this morning.
"We want to reassure all residents that the water being used was stored water from an onsite water tank. This was not from the mains water supply and could have had no impact on the main supply.
"Ashfield District Council is aware of the ongoing issues due to there being a big increase in demand for water, that is causing low pressure in some areas of the district.
"We have been working with Severn Trent, providing them a location to distribute water.
"Our staff and members have also helped with distribution of water to vulnerable residents over the last few days."
