The damp chill of south-east England is an unlikely backdrop for drought preparations. But deep beneath rain-swept streets, the vital groundwater which quenches Britain’s most populous area is worryingly low, and reservoirs are struggling to refill even through the dark, February drizzle.
Around 8,000 miles away, on the tip of Africa, drought has taken a more predictable form: sun-tanned locals of Cape Town were pictured last week queuing in the South African heat with giant plastic water cans to fill up at natural springs.
In a little over three months the combination of unprecedented low rainfall and bungled resource management will bring the city of 4m people to its knees.
While the average Briton uses around 200 litres of water a day Capetonians are limited to 50 litres, and face fines or even jail for exceeding the rationed amount. By Day Zero, as it has become known, Cape Town will...