Water supplies `stable' but don't waste a drop!

WATER customers have been assured there are still enough supplies - despite the dry summer.

But Yorkshire Water and the Environment Agency have urged consumers to conserve water wherever possible and said supplies are constantly monitored.

A spokesman for Yorkshire Water said: "This has been one of the hottest and driest summers on record in Yorkshire, yet supplies have been maintained and will continue to be maintained for the foreseeable future, despite the ongoing dry weather.

"Customers' taps are running and our reservoirs are still over half full.

"Important progress has been made to reduce leakage by more than 40% and build an extremely flexible water supply system which enables us to move water to areas where demand is greatest."

Both groups said that some reservoirs in the county are very low but these were largely `compensation reservoirs' which are designed to fill up during the winter and release their water during the summer to keep levels high.

Mr Phil Younge, the Environment Agency's regional strategy unit manager, said it was important that everyone remembered how valuable water is.

"None of us can make it rain, but we can affect how much water is taken out of the environment by minimising the water we use, even during autumn and winter.

"Although we would expect more rainfall at this time of year, we can't guarantee that will happen, so we have plans in place to make sure that we can deal with whatever situation arises".

Most rivers in the region are currently close to or below the average summertime flow level.

They are not causing significant concern at present but the Environment Agency will monitor levels to ensure that appropriate action is taken if needed.

A spokesman for Yorkshire Water added: "On broader environmental concerns both the Environment Agency and Yorkshire Water monitor the impact on fish and other wildlife.

"Action would be taken if it was felt that these were endangered, taking into account the balance that needs to be struck between maintaining peripheral levels and protecting public water supplies."