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BIGGEST WATER PRICE RISE IN THE COUNTRY

Folkestone and Dover Water, which supplies about 160,000 people in Kent, has become the first company in the country to apply for water scarcity status.

Pay more for less

The company had to prove it had exhausted all additional avenues for water sourcing and done what it could to meet customer demand.

And if that wasn't enough for customers, the water challenged company have now  hiked their prices by 7.5%, the biggest rise of the 12 water-only companies, pushing prices up by an average £12 for domestic customers.

The cost of the average domestic water and sewerage bills across England and Wales is set to rise by 5.5%

Ofwat said the increases included inflation and were in line with the price limits it set in December 2004. The regulator added some customers would pay less if they had a water meter and low consumption. 

Water shortages in the South East have become so extreme the Environment Agency wants five new reservoirs to be built in the next 25 years. 

Reservoirs which would normally be more than 90% full in February are standing less than 40% full after more than a year of drought conditions. 

Water companies across the South East are trying to persuade their customers to cut down on their use of water. 

Hosepipe bans are already in force or almost certain to be brought in later this year, while restrictions on non-essential water use, such as for jet washes or to water sports pitches, could be introduced. 

Water companies in the South East fear problems with shortages may get worse when the thousands of new homes planned for the region are built.