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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Environment
Sandra Laville

Severe drought declared in six areas of England as public water supplies under threat

A water intake tower stands over the mostly dry bed of Ardingly reservoir
The water level at Ardingly reservoir, which serves about 95,000 properties, is critically low at only 19% full. Photograph: Toby Melville/Reuters

A severe drought has been declared in six areas of England, with some reservoirs at critically low levels, threatening public supplies.

Parts of Devon, Cornwall, Dorset, Somerset, East Sussex and West Sussex have moved into severe drought, and urgent measures are being taken to secure public supplies of water after the UK experienced its hottest summer on record.

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