SOUTHERN Water’s battle plan for coping with a severe water shortage has been revealed.

The blueprint outlines how the company would ensure it would continue supplying customers with safe, healthy drinking water under extreme and dry conditions.

It comes as Environment Agency experts have warned hosepipe bans could be in place around Britain as soon as the spring, as the country faces a drought.

Householders could see strict rules introduced within weeks to stop them filling up paddling pools or using sprinklers in the garden as a record dry 18 months has left reservoirs at perilously low levels.

Southern Water’s plan outlines “triggers” used to predict droughts.

These are based on regular measurements of rainfall, soil moisture, groundwater levels, river flows, reservoir levels and the demand for water.

If these indicators were met at any point, the utility firm would introduce bans on certain types of heavy use.

In severe droughts, it would apply for permission to take more water from rivers and underground aquifers, or use water from wetter regions.

The plan comes as thousands of homes across Southampton are being fitted with water meters in a bid to cope with the demands of an increasing population, largely fuelled by immigration.

A lack of rainfall in January has followed the driest year since 1976, leading to fears of a drought.

Trevor Bishop, the Environment Agency’s head of water resources, said: “We haven’t seen anything this severe for at least two decades. It is highly probable that we are going to have a drought across the southeast, East Anglia and the East Midlands.”

But despite reservoir levels plummeting to their lowest in 40 years, Southern Water bosses have ruled out a hosepipe ban for Hampshire this year. By law the firm must have new plans every three years and then ask people what they think.

The deadline for public feedback is March 30. A response will be published in May.