We don't often think 'drought' at the start of winter, but Thames Water has issued a warning that if we don't start watching how we use our H20 we could be headed for restrictions next summer.
Of the last 19 months, 15 have had below average rainfall (even though summer was a bit miserable, it was still dry), and this ridiculously mild autumn clearly hasn't helped. Thames Water has just needed to boost supplies using an underground aquifer network and is crossing its fingers for 80% average winter rainfall to refill its watery coffers. Even with pipe replacements cutting leaks (Southwark, Lambeth, Wandsworth and Merton: those roadworks coming your way between now and March will save enough water to fill the Olympic pool each day) and a desalination plant in Beckton almost ready to come online, we're still being asked to do our bit.
As well as taking showers not baths, fixing dripping taps and fully loading the washer, you can also get some water saving devices from Thames Water. Free shower head, tap aerators or cistern hippo, anyone?
Photo by Homemade from the Londonist Flickr pool
