Water firms consider bans on filling public pools and car washing to fight drought

A ban on all non-essential use of water would forbid carwashing, the cleaning of offices and the filling of swimming pools and ponds. Photograph: Mark Richardson/Alamy

Bans on filling public swimming pools, maintaining ponds, washing cars and cleaning offices and shops could be put in place as England continues to run out of water, the Guardian can reveal.

Despite recent showery periods, the country, particularly in the south and east, has not received enough rain to refill depleted rivers and reservoirs.