Official drought zones have been declared in a further 17 English counties, as a warning came that water shortages could last until Christmas.
The Environment Agency said dry weather over the past few months had left some rivers in England exceptionally low.
It has now extended its "drought map" into the Midlands and the South West.
Officials say public water supplies are unlikely to be affected by the continuing drought, but are reiterating calls for water to be used wisely.
England's South West and the Midlands have moved into official drought status after two dry winters "left rivers and ground waters depleted", the agency said.
Drought restrictions were already in place in south-east England, East Anglia, parts of the South and Yorkshire.
The Environment Agency said the dry weather was taking its toll on the environment and farmers.
And BBC Midlands Environment Correspondent David Gregory said the impact on farmers was one of the reasons the Midlands was being regarded as a drought zone.
"Although the Midlands now joins the South East and other parts of the UK in drought, the reasons behind the Environment Agency's decision are slightly different," he said.
"For the parched South East it is ordinary consumers who are affected. But in the Midlands that is not the case. Water companies there are all confident there will be no need to introduce a hosepipe ban for customers this year.
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