- The UK is experiencing its driest six months to July since 1976, leading the Environment Agency to declare the current water shortfall a "nationally significant incident."
- The Environment Agency is urging the public to reduce water consumption through traditional methods and by deleting old emails.
- This advice is due to large data centres, which store cloud-based files like emails and photos, requiring vast amounts of water for cooling.
- Drought has been declared in several English regions, including Yorkshire, Cumbria, Lancashire, Greater Manchester, Merseyside, Cheshire, the East Midlands, and the West Midlands.
- Hosepipe bans are in force for customers of various water companies, and largely dry conditions are forecast to continue across the country.
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