Councillor Louise Goldsmith, economy and environment cabinet member, wants to meet the Southern, South East, Thames and Portsmouth water companies.

Southern Water has a ban on unattended hosepipes and sprinklers in place across West Sussex.

Ms Goldsmith also wants the Environment Agency to attend the water meeting.

If we cannot meet people's demands now for water, how on earth are we going to cope if thousands of extra homes are to be built? Councillor Louise Goldsmith

"I will be saying that the county council wants to assist in any way that it can now and in the years to come," she said.

The aim is to get an idea of how water supply levels could potentially affect the people of West Sussex in the future.

The South East England Regional Assembly has proposed that 2,900 new homes be built in the county every year from 2006 until 2026.

Water-saving tips

Ms Goldsmith said: "If we cannot meet people's demands now for water, how on earth are we going to cope if thousands of extra homes are to be built?"

Portsmouth Water has asked its customers in Chichester and Bognor Regis to reduce consumption, but has so far stopped short of any actual restrictions.