Drought conditions have now been extended across most of the country as reservoirs run dry causing the worst water shortage since 1976 when business supplies were rationed and schools made to close early in order to conserve H20.

The Environment Agency has confirmed that such measures are unlikely to be put in place this summer, but already people in many areas are facing the prospect of hosepipe bans and other restrictions on their water use.

But would bans like these be necessary if we all paid a little more attention to the amount of water we use in our kitchens and bathrooms? For example, how much could be saved if we all turned off the water flow when we brushed our teeth, or if we all fixed our dripping kitchen mixer taps?

There are numerous things we can do in the kitchen to conserve water, from making sure the dishwasher is fully loaded to steaming our vegetables instead of boiling them. But perhaps one of the simplest is to install a new tap over the sink.

Many of today's modern taps feature technology that can help you use less water. For example, Della kitchen mixer taps have drip free ceramic disc technology that eliminates the problem of leaks, as well as aerators that combine air with the flow of water.

According to the Environment Agency the average person in England and Wales uses 150 litres of water a day. Most of this goes on washing and toilet flushing.

The organisation reckons we are using almost 50 per cent more water than we did 25 years ago because of powerful new showers and household appliances, so thinking about water conservation when you buy a new dishwasher, washing machine or kitchen tap could make a big difference.