Brits have been told to brace themselves for regular water rationing with supplies potentially turned off for 'several' weeks.
Warnings of widespread shortages as summers get hotter have been made by Thames Water.
One of the UK's biggest suppliers explain that droughts are going to become more frequent and longer as climate change impact hits home.
The United Nations warned last summer that the world is facing an emergency as rivers run dry, reservoirs shrink, and swathes of once-fertile land become barren deserts.
Europe is facing its worst drought in 500 years - and Britain could face the brunt.
The Telegraph reports that in a public consultation on how to fix its network, the company said: “As our climate changes, we’ll likely see more severe and frequent droughts.
“In severe droughts, water restrictions could see us rationing water for everyday activities or turning off supplies for certain periods during the day.
"Restrictions like this could last for several weeks.”
The water industry is battling an on-going scandal over companies’ inability to invest in infrastructure since privatisation in the 90s.
Water companies are now offering households incentives to use less water.
Thames Water was one of six companies recently criticised for its poor performance by regulator Ofwat.
They said it was “deeply concerned” about the firms’ actions.
Chief executive Sarah Bentley said: “If we are to ensure a secure and sustainable water supply for future generations, we need to act now, to protect our communities and our environment against the impact of drought and water shortages.
“Even after reducing leakage and water usage across our region, we will still need an extra one billion litres of water every day for customers by 2075 to accommodate climate change and population growth.
"Planning and constructing new resources takes time, which is why we must start now, otherwise we will have more restrictions and shortages in the future.”
Leaky pipes are at fault for at least 2.bn litres of water is being lost every day across the UK.
Thames Water posted a near £400m profit over the last six months - despite imposing a hosepipe ban on millions last summer.
That ban was only lifted late last month.
Thames Water confirmed people are again free to use their hosepipes and sprinklers again without risking a fine of up to £1,000.
The company said: "Thanks to customer support and recent wet weather, including above average rainfall, restrictions on water use are no longer currently required."
The ban was implemented to give rivers and reservoirs a chance to recover after the long period of low rainfall.
