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| South East latest part of England officially in drought | |
| (40 minutes later) | |
| Much of southern and eastern England is officially in a state of drought, the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) has announced. | |
| The announcement came as Environment Secretary Caroline Spelman hosted a drought summit. | The announcement came as Environment Secretary Caroline Spelman hosted a drought summit. |
| In parts of south-east England groundwater levels are lower than in the infamously dry summer of 1976. | In parts of south-east England groundwater levels are lower than in the infamously dry summer of 1976. |
| Ms Spelman said after the summit: "Ensuring we have enough water this summer is vitally important." | Ms Spelman said after the summit: "Ensuring we have enough water this summer is vitally important." |
| She said: "Drought is already an issue this year with the South East, Anglia and other parts of the UK now officially in drought, and more areas are likely to be affected as we continue to experience a prolonged period of very low rainfall. | She said: "Drought is already an issue this year with the South East, Anglia and other parts of the UK now officially in drought, and more areas are likely to be affected as we continue to experience a prolonged period of very low rainfall. |
| "It is not just the responsibility of government, water companies and businesses to act against drought. We are asking for the help of everyone by urging them to use less water and to start now." | "It is not just the responsibility of government, water companies and businesses to act against drought. We are asking for the help of everyone by urging them to use less water and to start now." |
| Water companies, farmers and wildlife groups were invited to discuss the situation at the summit. | Water companies, farmers and wildlife groups were invited to discuss the situation at the summit. |
| Thames Water's sustainability director Richard Aylard said: "There is a high chance we will need restrictions at some stage this summer unless either we get a lot of rain or fantastic co-operation from customers using less water." | Thames Water's sustainability director Richard Aylard said: "There is a high chance we will need restrictions at some stage this summer unless either we get a lot of rain or fantastic co-operation from customers using less water." |
| Saving water | Saving water |
| He urged people to turn off taps while cleaning their teeth, take shorter showers, fix leaks and only wash laundry with a full load. | He urged people to turn off taps while cleaning their teeth, take shorter showers, fix leaks and only wash laundry with a full load. |
| The South East joins parts of eastern England which have been in a drought situation since last summer. | The South East joins parts of eastern England which have been in a drought situation since last summer. |
| The situation contrasts markedly with Scotland where reservoirs are between 93% and 97% full. | The situation contrasts markedly with Scotland where reservoirs are between 93% and 97% full. |
| Ms Spelman said she wanted water companies to look at the possibility of connecting pipe networks so they could transfer water from wetter parts of the country. | Ms Spelman said she wanted water companies to look at the possibility of connecting pipe networks so they could transfer water from wetter parts of the country. |
| Severn Trent's water director, Andy Smith, said: "I would agree that we should be looking at interconnecting the networks between the various water companies. | Severn Trent's water director, Andy Smith, said: "I would agree that we should be looking at interconnecting the networks between the various water companies. |
| "What has happened quite understandably is each water company has tended to focus on its own area. | "What has happened quite understandably is each water company has tended to focus on its own area. |
| "And we believe that there will be opportunities with relatively small levels of investment to make inter-connections between different organisations to try and get the water from the north and the west where it's relatively wet down to the south and the east." | "And we believe that there will be opportunities with relatively small levels of investment to make inter-connections between different organisations to try and get the water from the north and the west where it's relatively wet down to the south and the east." |