Residents urged to be water wise as county enters drought

Worthing has suffered its driest 10 months since 1888, and periods of heavy rainfall in the near future are unlikely according to recent Met Office forecasts.

Some of the advice given by Southern Water includes only filling the kettle with as much water as needed, taking shorter showers, making sure washing machines and dishwashers are full before cycles and getting leaky taps fixed.

Speaking after a water summit on Monday, environment secretary Caroline Spelman said: “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.”

The drought could also spell disaster for the region’s wildlife, with dry weather meaning birds are struggling to find food and the materials needed to make nests, says the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds.