People living in parts of mid Wales could face a hosepipe ban within weeks after Welsh Water declared a drought developing zone due to dry weather.
The Teifi Pools area of south and mid Ceredigion has experienced a drier than expected period between March and May, with reservoir levels 31% lower than the same time last year.
The reservoirs supply water to 32,000 properties in Ceredigion, as well parts of northern Carmarthenshire and Pembrokeshire.
Marc Davies, Welsh Water's water services director said "temporary use bans" could be introduced in the next four to six weeks, depending on the level of upcoming rainfall.
Drought developing status is the second of five stages Welsh Water uses to measure the level of drought, but does not restrict customers' use of water.
But if reservoir water levels in the area do not improve over the next few weeks, Welsh Water might have to move to stage three and issue temporary bans on the use of water in the near future.
Mr Davies said the "worst case scenario" was if there was no rainfall, which could lead to hosepipe ban "in about four to six week".
