Britons warned reservoirs could run dry within weeks as secret 'Day Zero' plans drawn up

A report warns that drought could put English water supplies under severe pressure, while water companies and government officials describe measures to avert shortages. Two reservoirs in Somerset and West Sussex are reported at low capacity.

• Wimbleball reservoir in Somerset was at 13% capacity and serves more than 400,000 people; Ardingly reservoir in West Sussex was at 17% and supplies 280,000 customers.· 1 source
• Cobra was reported to be meeting twice weekly, and officials’ confidential worst-case scenario projected reservoir stocks could reach zero within weeks without intervention.· 2 sources
• South West Water said it was fixing about 440 leaks per week and transferring three million litres daily; the government said customer supplies remained uninterrupted.· 1 source