Thames is discussing options to take more water from rivers with the Environment Agency. The company is already running a desalination plant and drawing on back-up aquifers to boost supplies.
Meanwhile, reservoir stocks remain exceptionally low at three sites in southeast England and two in East Anglia.
Polly Chancellor, national drought co-ordinator at the EA, said: “While we’ve had some welcome rain this week, the environmental drought affecting large parts of England could last until Christmas.
“The soil is so dry that only steady rain over the winter will restore rivers and groundwaters.”
The agency is also considering a scheme to transfer water from Severn Trent’s Birmingham boreholes to Anglian Water’s region during the drought.
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