Taps Ran Dry in 1976 – Could We Be Heading for a Drought Just As Bad?

Could we be heading for a drought that’s so bad we have to queue for water at communal taps out on the street?

It sounds far fetched in the 21st century.

But less than 50 years ago that’s what neighbourhoods had to do as household taps ran dry in the long, hot summer of 1976.

Now new figures show England is currently experiencing the driest start to a year since then.

The Environment Agency says levels at three quarters of reservoirs fell in June. On average, they were 75% full at the end of the month.

And rivers, which of course top up reservoirs, are also running low.

Levels in three-quarters of those monitored by the Agency were below normal for the time of year. One in eight were exceptionally low.