Recent reports in the national Press criticising the artist Mark McGowan, who left taps running as part of an art project, are correct it is irresponsible.

But we should also realise the most irresponsible and uncaring people in the imminent water shortage crisis are the water supply companies.

For years, scientists have been warning of climate change through global warming. For years, the population of the South-East has been significantly increasing each year, due mainly to Government encouragement.

For years, the water companies have been telling us the water network is old and needs replacing. For years, they have done very little to solve these problems.

Now, suddenly, we are heading for a crisis. We are told it is because people are now using more water than ever before.

To me that is an obvious development, in a country where everyone is expected to be cleaner than ever before.

To the water companies, apparently, it was a surprise.

The water companies have a very simple task to supply water. One product which, for most of the time, falls out of the sky. Unfortunately, they appear to have failed and don't really have any intention of providing any alternative supply. The simple answer is to ban the use of hosepipes or cut-off supply.

Let's introduce meters as quickly as possible. I bet we won't see any more cuts or hosepipe bans when the only revenue the water supply companies will get is from people using more and more water.

-Reg Dove, Seaford