Defra and the Environment Agency have officially declared parts of East Anglia, including Cambridgeshire, Northamptonshire and Lincolnshire as suffering from drought.
Areas in the South West, South East, Midlands and Wales are experiencing near drought-conditions following one of the warmest and driest springs for more than 100 years.
Widespread hosepipes bans are unlikely, although Severn Trent Water has said it is considering "every option".
The Environment Secretary, Caroline Spelman, urged consumers not to use water unnecessarily like watering lawns and washing cars, saying: "Water companies are confident that supplies are high enough so that widespread restrictions to the public are unlikely. We're doing all that we can to reduce the impact on agriculture and wildlife, but everyone can play their part."
The impact of the drought may not be affecting households yet but the low rivers and groundwater levels are a problem for farming and wildlife and substantially increase the risk of a nationwide drought next year.
For more information, see the:
