WHAT THE DRY SPELL IS LIKELY TO MEAN FOR YOU

SWATHES of England - including the East Midlands - are officially in drought, following months of belowaverage rainfall and another heatwave this week.

Eight of the Environment Agency’s 14 regions are now considered to be in drought.

Here’s our rundown of what the drought is likely to mean for you.

Which areas are in drought? Devon and Cornwall; Solent and South Downs; Kent and South London; Herts and North London; East Anglia; Thames; Lincolnshire and Northamptonshire and East Midlands

Yorkshire and the West Midlands are expected to be declared to be in drought later in August.

Leicestershire has been subject to a Level 3 Heat-Health Alert in recent days, with temperatures peaking at about 33C.

However, the Met Office has also issued a yellow weather warning for thunderstorms at the start of next week, when the heatwave is forecast to end.

Why has a drought been declared?

Months of below-average rainfall have put water supplies under strain.

Reservoirs in some parts of the country are at much lower levels than usual .

On Monday, Severn Trent said reserves were at 58.8 per cent. In Leicestershire, Swithland sits at 67.1 per cent and Cropston a low 39.1 per cent of capacity, while Staunton and Foremark, which serve the county, are at 76.1 per cent between them.

What restrictions are in force during a drought?

It isn’t yet completely clear, yet, but the rules are likely to be quite similar to the hosepipe bans already in force in some parts of England and Wales.

This could mean that people are prohibited from using hosepipes to water their gardens, pot plants and to wash their cars, for instance.

Filling domestic paddling and swimming pools is also likely to be prohibited in affected areas.

However, if the drought worsens, an extreme drought could be declared.

This would mean stricter restrictions on the non-essential use of water, including the possibility of restrictions on commercial car washes and swimming pools.

If the situation continues to worsen, water firms could apply to the government for an emergency drought order. This could allow suppliers to ration water at some times of the day, and possibly even require people to obtain water from standpipes.

How long will the drought go on for?

Some experts say that we can expect drought conditions to persist until at least October.

The Telegraph, however, reports that the drought could stretch into next year.

It quotes experts as saying it would require “exceptional rainfall” to restore water reserves to their normal levels.