Why is Britain so poorly prepared for dealing with water shortages?

SIR – Nearly 50 years since the previous drought and the best the water companies can offer is a hosepipe ban.

This would suggest that the two words missing from conversations within the water industry have been “strategic” and “planning”.

Philip Hall

Petersfield, Hampshire

SIR – We have just received our third letter from South East Water, this one telling us that using hoses is banned.

We know. It’s on the news several times every day. These three letters have been sent, no doubt, to all residents in Kent, and anyone else who gets water from this company.

What a waste of money. It should be spent on fixing leaks instead.

Lesley McDowell

Herne Bay, Kent

SIR – In 1987 I spent a very hot six months deployed to Cyprus.

Thankfully both the Dhekelia and Episcopi British sovereign base areas had their own desalination plants, and we experienced no household shortages of water.

Why cannot our huge multinational water companies plan ahead in such a way? If they will not do so, then local authorities should take the lead, and every small or medium-sized town along the British coast should invest in its own plant.

Lt Col Mark Jackson (retd)

Pershore, Worcestershire

SIR – While I am in complete agreement with Lesley Boardman (Letters, July 31) about what we can learn from Bermuda’s approach to water – having lived there myself – it is worth noting that the island receives about 65 inches of rain a year, whereas the South East of England receives about 21.

Perhaps this is even more of a reason to adopt Bermudan methods for water conservation.

Janet McNeill

Upper Basildon, Essex