Letter: We need water this year, next year, forever

A water company defence that "water was available but in the wrong places" may be pathetic but it describes the root of the only long-term solution ("Will there be enough water?" 6 April.) The north and west of this island is awash for most of the year, with a surplus they considered exporting to Spain while standpipes were in use in Yorkshire.

Such madness would end if the Government directed the water companies to create a national water grid, just as we have a national electricity grid, and wherever possible using rivers and canals as main arteries, this having the additional benefit of helping to protect our threatened river environments. This has been investigated by experts and plans formulated but their voices have been ignored.

Peter Rooks

Seaford, East Sussex