Britain’s depleted water supplies are under increasing strain with the number of leaks detected by some suppliers more than doubling since the start of the heatwave.
A drought was officially declared in parts of England on Friday and the Environment Agency has predicted that the UK could face water shortages in the next 25 years without any action, including tackling leakage and reduced customer usage.
Environment Secretary George Eustice has proposed a “national grid” for water which would see pipes run from the wetter areas of the west of England eastwards to deal with future droughts.
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The revelation that leaks are being found at such a rate suggests the drought, which is coming off the driest summer in half a century, has entered a new peril.