Drought looms in parts of UK as extreme heat hits

The Independent's Morning Headlines email [View online]( August 12, 2022 [Morning Headlines]( 1 / [Water firms fail on targets to cut household leaks and domestic use as drought looms]( Water companies have failed to meet their own targets for cutting household leaks and domestic use as parts of the country brace for a drought to be declared. Of the 17 largest companies in England and Wales regulated by Ofwat, only South West Water met its goal to reduce water consumption to 142 litres per day per person in 2021-22, through the rollout of smart meters, fixing leaks and advising customers how to save water. The missed targets combined with companies’ failure to fix faulty main pipes, estimated to spew out about 3 billion litres a day, have led to calls for action to reduce demand and bolster dwindling stocks amid the second major heatwave in weeks. The National Drought Group will hold an emergency meeting on Friday to decide whether to declare a drought in parts of England, which would prompt further restrictions on water use.   2 / [Truss putting millions of vulnerable people ‘at risk of real destitution’, says Sunak]( Former chancellor blasts foreign secretary’s focus on tax cuts as ‘moral failure’ 3 / [Labour vows to end ‘outrageous’ energy premiums faced by prepayment customers]( Labour says policy is first in package to be unveiled in coming days 4 /[Legoland rollercoaster crash leaves 34 people injured after trains collide on ride in Germany]( Incident took place at theme park in Guenzburg 5 / [Man charged after one dead and three injured in Scottish Highlands]( Victim John MacKinnon was reportedly trying to help others when he was killed     The Big Question Why are women being arrested for having abortions in Britain? Women in the UK have the right to an abortion. If they require one, they are usually granted it, unlike in the US, where the recent reversal of Roe v Wade means that abortion is no longer a constitutional right and, in some states, women face jail time for having a termination. With this in mind, it is shocking to hear that two women are currently facing life imprisonment in England for having had illegal abortions. So why is this happening and what can be done? [For the full story click here >](   Watch/ [UK bakes amid heatwave with drought looming for some parts of country](   NUMBER OF THE DAY 7m – The number of people in Britain [currently awaiting NHS treatment]( as the patient backlog worsens.   QUOTE OF THE DAY “Instead of doing anything to help, this government has Rishi Sunak and Liz Truss fighting each other like rats in a sack and the government doing absolutely nothing about coming up with proposals for how they can help people face this crisis, which is looming and terrifying.” – Labour shadow justice secretary Steve Reed lays into Boris Johnson’s ‘zombie government’ and Tory leadership contenders as the cost of living crisis deepens.       Other stories you might like   [Semi-pro footballer beaten in ‘racist’ attack left with life-changing injuries as attacker remains at large](   [Lisa Kudrow addresses lack of diversity on Friends: ‘You write what you know’](   [Arctic now warming four times faster than rest of the world, scientists say](       Articles available exclusively to subscribers John Rentoul, The Independent - [Liz Truss is a Boris Johnson tribute act](   Other newsletters you might like [The Race Report] The Race Report Fortnightly, 7am (UK time) Written by Nadine White [Sign up]( [Inside Politics] Inside Politics Weekdays, 8am (UK time) Written by Matt Mathers [Sign up](   If you can spare a minute we’d love your [feedback]( on our newsletters. [The Independent]( Join the conversation or follow us [Facebook]( [Twitter]( Please do not reply directly to this email You are currently registered to receive The Independent's Morning Headlines newsletter. Add us to your safe list of senders. If you do not want to receive The Independent's Morning Headlines newsletter, please [unsubscribe](list_name=IND_Headlines_Masterlist_CDP). If you no longer wish to receive any newsletters or promotional emails from The Independent, you can unsubscribe [here](. This e-mail was sent by Independent Digital News and Media Ltd, 2 Derry Street, London W8 5HF. Registered in England and Wales with company number 07320345. Read our [privacy notice]( and [cookie policy](.