Britain mulls hosepipe ban

London, Feb 20 (IANS) Britain may ban use of hosepipes this summer as groundwater levels in several parts of England have dropped to an alarming level, The Telegraph reported.

Environment Secretary Caroline Spelman has warned the water levels were lower than in the drought of 1976.

"A hosepipe ban is more likely this year. I think people were quite surprised last year that, not withstanding the fact that it was so dry, there were no hosepipe bans."

"We have had the second dry winter in a row. I think it is more likely that the public water supply will be affected unless we have substantial rainfall between now and the summer," Spelman told BBC Radio 4's Today programme.

Spelman was expected to host a drought summit Monday with water companies, farmers and wildlife groups, as rivers in central and south east England dry up.

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