Water water everywhere, but not a drop for the customers

The wettest part of England now has a hosepipe ban. United Utilities are running out of water, and will impose £1000 fine on anyone caught using a hosepipe. How can a private company enforce a fine? Why have they got no water? It pours with rain, the lake district is in their area, and we are surrounded by water for gods sake! So it's too expensive to build desalination plants and other ways to collect water. Well TOUGH! You bought the water company, you should provide enough water for all your customers, (you know the people who pay your wages!), and if there's any money left over, then you can pay a dividend. In any other business, if you don't supply what you promised, then you don't get paid. How about a discount for all your customers eh?