Water Company Prepares Itself For UK Drought

Anglian Water has applied for a drought permit allowing it to pipe millions of litres of water from a river to a reservoir as fears of a shortage next summer grow.

The driest spring for more than 80 years and a lack of autumn rainfall have left rivers and reservoirs at low levels.

The water company has become the first to take the precautionary measure by approaching the Environment Agency .

"You wouldn't expect us to be talking about drought in winter but this is really the result of the cumulative effect of successive dry seasons that we have had throughout the year," said Anglian Water spokesman Ciaran Nelson.

"We know that going into next spring and summer, when we will really need water, our network could be under strain and that's why we're putting this precautionary measure in place."

The drought permit would allow the firm to extract an extra 17 million litres of water a day from the River Nene near Northampton until the end of March.

It would be piped north to Pitsford Reservoir which is currently only 56% full.

Pressure is being put on businesses and residents to avoid using too much water.

But for Paul Martin, who owns a hairdresser's a couple of miles away in Brixworth, it is easier said than done.

"We can try to save as much water as we can, but at the end of the day we have to provide a service and do the best for our customers, so we are caught between a rock and hard place."

The last time a drought permit was applied for in autumn or winter was in 2003.

A decision on this latest application is expected within a fortnight and Anglian Water may need to apply for further permits elsewhere.

But whatever the outcome, customers are being urged to start saving water now to help prevent a hosepipe ban come the summer.