A drought has been declared in the West and East Midlands, says the Environment Agency (EA).
It does not automatically mean a hosepipe ban – but water companies in those areas can implement one if they think it’s necessary.
Yorkshire Water has already restricted use, while bans are also being introduced in Kent, Sussex, Swindon, Gloucestershire, Oxfordshire, Berkshire and Wiltshire.
Some river flows in the Midlands are the lowest they’ve been in June since 1976, according to the EA.
People in the region are being urged to “play their part in managing the drought and use water wisely”.
The decision to declare a drought was made by the National Drought Group, which includes the Met Office, government, water firms and others.
It said the situation in the Midlands had deteriorated since its last assessment on 5 June.
Rainfall across England last month was 20% less than the long-term average – and it was the hottest June on record for the country, according to the EA.
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