Water levels are rising, but more rain is needed

Three weeks of torrential rain across most of England and Wales have seen water levels soar across the country.

Even badly depleted reservoirs in the south should be nearly full by the start of the summer if rainfall stays high in the coming weeks.

But last year was the second-driest since 1921, and the agency says there could still be droughts this summer.

Groundwater supplies remain well below average, and an agency spokeswoman warned: "There's a long way to go."

Flood threat

An agency report says further heavy rain is needed to avoid drought this summer: "The worst case scenario would be a return to dry conditions in the south and east, where both reservoirs and groundwater levels are still to make a significant recovery."

WET, WET, WET Rainfall in December was 5% above average The north-west's supplies are now at 84% of capacity Thames-area reservoirs are now 91% full Levels in some areas have risen by 18% since December

But despite expectations that 2004 will be a contender for the hottest and driest year since records began, the Environment Agency says flooding will remain a threat during winter months.

Asked about the apparent contradiction, an agency spokeswoman said: "Drought and flooding can coexist very easily.

"About 85% of the supply in the south-east is groundwater," she explained. "That takes an awful lot of water to replenish."