Lessons From Summer Of 1976

The MET Office have revised their heatwave alert and are warning that high temperatures will continue well into next week and the Government (what remains of them anyway) are holding a COBRA meeting to discuss contingency measures to be enacted in response to the rapidly dwindling reservoir levels with hosepipe bans and water bans being mooted.
The last time the UK suffered a full on water shortage was 1976 so facing a return to the year of flared trousers and shirt collars that would make you airborne if you got caught in a breeze, we can take a peek back at what we can expect.
The newspapers were full of reports of plagues of ladybirds and aphids and people wearing T-Shirts with 'Save Water, Bath With A Friend' across the chest while they stood holding buckets at standpipes which were erected in the streets as water was rationed and in some parts of the UK turned off completely between 7pm and 8am.
Hosepipes, garden sprinklers and car washing was banned and water patrol vans were sent out to prowl the streets for suspiciously green lawns or clean cars and wildfires were left to burn themselves out rather than be doused and a bath could not lawfully be more than five inches although i have no idea how that was enforced.
It was suggested by the Government to insert a brick into their toilet cistern and led to the mantra 'If its yellow let it mellow, if its brown flush it down' and don't run taps while cleaning your teeth so with no imminent rain in the forecast for the next few weeks it might be prudent to stock up on wet wipes and bricks now.