Water level in drought I'd expected (4)

I believe the answer is:

tide

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'water level' is the definition.
Although both the answer and definition are singular nouns, I can't see how one could define the other.

'in drought i'd expected' is the wordplay.
'in' indicates the answer is hidden within the clue.
'TIDE' is hidden within 'drought id expected'.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for tide that I've seen before include "Current, ebb" , "Ocean phase" , "Powerful surge" , "(With time) it waits for no man" , "''There is a ... in the affairs of men'' (Julius Caesar)" .)

I've seen this clue in The Sun.

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