Project Drought

SIR – As usual after the first days of summer weather, “Project Drought” is resurrected to increase public anxiety and allow “experts” a platform to pontificate on consumers’ lack of moderation (Letters, May 26).

Blame for water shortages should be placed squarely and solely on successive governments and the water companies.

Governments have not matched the rise in population in the past half century with provisions for utilities, and they have not effectively regulated privatised water companies.

Water companies have ignored the need for reservoirs to collect rainwater, as opposed to the cheaper but much more risky (to environment and public health) option of extraction direct from rivers during summertime low water flow, with accompanying concentrations of contaminates. Keith R Macnamara

Downton, Wiltshire