The Environment Agency was also expected to increase compliance checks on businesses withdrawing water from natural sources to ensure they only take permitted quantities.
It said “small changes” including taking shorter showers, fixing leaks and turning off taps while brushing teeth could “make a real difference”.
“These aren’t token gestures,” the agency said.
“They cut the amount of water we need to take from rivers and groundwater, protecting supplies for people and leaving more for wildlife, wetlands and the natural systems we all depend on.”
The Environment Agency said further dry weather was expected for the rest of October: “The usual seasonal rainfall has yet to arrive, and 82% of England remains in drought.”
In some areas, 120% of the expected rainfall was needed for the next six months or “drought conditions will continue and could worsen”, it said.
Severe drought is the most serious level, and was declared “when evidence shows drought is causing, or will soon cause, serious harm, and that emergency action is needed to protect people, water supplies, the environment, farming, infrastructure or other critical services”.
