It’s hardly surprising that the British have always taken their water supplies for granted. It rains a lot in Britain, therefore there’s plenty of fresh water, and it’s only in really exceptional years – like 1976 – that there is ever a problem with the supply.

That is what everyone thought, but the situation seems to have changed dramatically – and, in many parts of the country, it may well lead to substantial alterations in the way we lead our lives. One effect may be the location of new homes. Everyone agrees that more homes are needed in the South East, but it may not be long before the water supply becomes a major constraint.

Roger Pryor of property specialists Strutt & Parker says, ‘Media comment on the water shortages has focussed on the short term, and commentators have been shaking their heads about the likelihood of hosepipe bans being imposed in what are usually rainy months.

‘There are far more serious ramifications though. Domestic property is in very short supply in exactly the areas worst affected by these problems. Large numbers of new homes are urgently needed in the South East, and the government has recognised the need and set impressive targets. If the infrastructure is not there these targets are not going to be met.

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‘The result will be a further lack of supply in the housing market and prices will continue to rise, which will disadvantage the less well off, key workers, and those trying to get a foot on the property ladder.’

Over the past fifteen months rainfall in England and Wales has been well below average, with the lowest figures recorded in the central areas of England and the south. Most catchment areas have seen between 50% and 70% of what would normally be expected. As a direct result groundwater levels have dropped and levels are low in both rivers and reservoirs. There are already warnings that the use of hose pipes may be banned within weeks – certainly long before we see summer – and other wasteful forms of water use may be prohibited. To avoid that happening rainfall over the next three months will need to be at least 20% above average.

The worst affected areas are supplied by Southern Water and mid-Kent Water in Kent and Sussex, but London, the Thames valley, East Anglia and the South Coast are not far behind. Kent has seen only 5% of its expected rainfall average so far this year, and the River Medway is already below what the water companies regard as its minimum level. Some reservoirs in the region are only 40% full. The water companies in these areas are looking at going well beyond hosepipe bans, and are considering banning the watering of crops, the use of car washes, and other commercial practises which involve water use.

Roger Pryor says, ‘We are acting as if water is both unlimited and free. It is neither of those things. The worst affected water companies are already asking for water meters to be made compulsory in private residences; something to which the government expressly said it was opposed just a few years ago. It seems unlikely that politicians will be able to resist this pressure from the water companies, and in recent interviews in the media they have been much more pragmatic.

’If the water companies in these areas cannot meet their existing obligations it’s hard to see how they can provide extra supply to the large numbers of new homes which are needed.

‘What is required is very substantial new investment or the creation of new reservoirs and a thorough overhaul of the piping system to minimise leakage. This throws up two questions immediately; is there the political will, and who will pay for it?