The Environment Agency and the water companies appear to think water meters will solve the water shortage.

The shortage is due, however, to lack of rain in the region and the high number of dwellings being built in the South-East.

The water companies have known since 1976 that in a dry period there would not be enough water to supply the South-East but they have done nothing to increase the supply by having pipelines from the wetter regions of the UK or tapping the mouths of the rivers.

The reason appears to be that this would cost a lot of money, whereas if they just have hosepipe bans or, as seems likely, standpipes, they would not lose any money as most people are rated by reference to their rateable value and have to pay irrespective of whether they receive water or not.

All housebuilding in the South East should be stopped until an adequate supply of water can be guaranteed.

All developers should be made to pay a sum to provide water for all the houses and flats they build.

If the Post Office can be fined for not delivering the post then the water companies should be fined for not delivering the water.

It is time our MPs started raising the water shortage in Parliament.

-B Bayliss, Hove