Dame Yve Buckland, chair of the Consumer Council for Water is concerned about the future of water resources in southern and eastern England, amid the governments plan for sustainable new housing and business growth in the South East.

Dame Yve said: "If you look at the water shortages in 2005 and think what it will be like in 15 years time, when there will be another 1.1 million households in the South East, we clearly cant sit around arguing between ourselves - something has to happen. Simplistic solutions to managing water resources wont work."

"Cutting leakage is very important, but that has to happen alongside increasing supply in a water company area like Thames, and with the complexity of the problems it faces," she added.

Dame Yve will address a House of Lords Select Committee Inquiry on water management on 17th October.