There is little water to be saved by implementing the hosepipe ban when the bulk of water usage is inside the house, with power showers, washing machines and dishwashers.

In addition to this there are more homes being built in the south-east but nothing is being done to collect or recycle more water.

I have a water meter and since it was fitted my water bills have more than halved. Why not implement wider use of meters and give every household a ration of water to be used on how they think fit?

I have dogs and for hygeine reasons I give their dog run a quick hose down every day - I will still have to clean it and using buckets of water will probably use just as much, if not more water.

By Sue Prosser, West Wickham

I was recently driving along Park Crescent in Erith, at the point where it crosses Lesney Park, when I noticed water bubbling up through the road, which begs the question - why the hosepipe ban? I read this week that a third of drinking water never actually reaches our homes. Surely Thames Water could better invest some of the millions of pounds profit they make every year into improving the capital's water system, and not just keep implementing hosepipe bans to try and solve the current water shortage.

I can only guess how much water might have poured from the broken water main over a 24-hour period, but I'm sure it's a considerable amount more than the amount I would use washing my car once a fortnight.

By Dave Rees, Erith

I was walking to work on Thursday June 8 at 8am and noticed Thames Water's pumping station at Dartford was pumping vast amounts of water into the River Darenth. When I came home at 8pm it was still pumping water.

In the light of the present drought conditions and hosepipe ban, perhaps they could explain this?

Perhaps if they ever take legal action against someone using a hosepipe to water the garden then this incident should be raised.

John Hill, Dartford

What do you think? Do you agree with the hosepipe ban being imposed by Thames Water? Will it affect you? Who do you think is to blame for the water shortages? Click here to send your comments