Local water storage

Certain areas of the southern half of England are continually moaning about a shortage of water during summer type weather and then moaning about being flooded during periods of rain and snow. 

Have  any of those areas actually done anything sensible to help their residents and businesses.? Or are they just sitting on their hands expecting the rest of us to bale them out. 

The  most effective first course of action would be to build huge area resovoirs which would collect excess water at times of plenty to supply the community during times of low rainfall. 

Does  nimbyism play a big part in the decision making process.

K