Half of Britain in drought
The Environment Agency has declared official drought zones in a further 17 English counties and warned the shortages could last until Christmas or beyond. It is the worst national water shortage since 1976.
'Drought still at warning level one'
The Environment Secretary Caroline Spelman has told ITV Daybreak that the UK is still only on "level one" in a three-tier drought warning system. It restricts "non-essential use of eater in domestic settings".
Level two would affect "non-essential water use in business". She said that we are unlikely to reach the most severe level, which would mean stand-pipes, but that if next winter is as dry as the last it could become a possibility.
She said that the drought affecting many parts of the UK was brought on by water leakages from pipes as well as the lack of rain, and advised viewers: "when you see a leak, report it".
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