The South-East could face 'severe' water shortages

Keith Mitchell, chairman of the South East County Leaders, said more money must be spent on water supply and sewage treatment to avert a crisis.

The government plans to build more than half a million homes in the South-East over the next 20 years.

Eight million people live in the South-East, one of the UK's driest regions.

Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott has designated four housing "hot spots" at Milton Keynes in Buckinghamshire, Ashford in Kent, the Cambridge-Stansted corridor and the Thames Gateway.

The South East England Regional Assembly will decide this month exactly where in those areas the new homes will be built.

The aim is to provide affordable homes for workers in the capital who have been priced out of the London market.

Millions of families living in the South East risk regular hosepipe bans and severe water shortages Keith Mitchell

Mr Mitchell said more thought needed to be given to the region's infrastructure if the building project goes ahead.

"Without more investment in water supply and sewage treatment, millions of families living in the South East risk regular hosepipe bans and severe water shortages," he said.

"Water is the most basic of human needs, yet the government is forcing ever more houses on the South East without being sure where it is going to come from.

"There is a big question mark about infrastructure in the South East," he told BBC News Online.

Growing demand

South East Counties research found the region's average rainfall of 600mm-900mm a year makes it one of the driest in the country.

New reservoirs are planned to cope with demand

It said families living in the proposed 500,000 new homes would create a new daily demand for water equivalent to more than twice the supply from Bewl Water, the South East's largest stretch of open water.

To meet the current demand, water companies have submitted plans to the Environment Agency including the construction of new reservoirs and increasing capacity at a dam on Bewl Water.

Friends of the Earth England's director Paul de Zylva told BBC News Online: "Mr Prescott's dubious plans ... look even more reckless if the way they are plumbed in guzzles already stretched water supplies.

"And with the effects of climate change, new reservoirs may run dry almost as soon as they are built."

We want new housing in the growth areas to achieve water savings of 25% to 30% Spokeswoman for John Prescott

A spokeswoman for Mr Prescott said: "We are confident water companies can meet new domestic demand. Water companies have a good track record at managing supply and demand for water.

"We want new housing in the growth areas to achieve water savings of 25%-30%."