Water shortage still a risk, warns Severn Trent
Water customers in the East Midlands are being urged to continue conserving water despite recent rainfall.
Severn Trent Water said "a little rain" had been welcome but warned reservoir levels were still below average.
It said the region had seen six successive months of below-average rainfall - the driest start to a year since 1929.
The company is calling for people to water gardens sparingly, take showers not baths, and fix dripping taps.
Fraser Pithie, senior operations manger, said: "In some places we've had just over half the rainfall so far this year that we'd normally expect. So naturally, we're keeping a close eye on the situation.
"The more steps we can all take now - both as a company and as individuals - then the better-placed our water supplies will be if the dry, hot weather returns."
Severn Trent said it had taken measures including stepping up leakage detection and repair activities, as well as closely monitoring the balance between its reservoir, river and groundwater sources.