Will our taps keep flowing?

In 1995 water shortages meant household taps ran dry

It is the hottest summer since 1990 and temperatures are still soaring, why then are we not being warned about conserving water?

In 1995 there was a widespread water shortage which led to hosepipe bans in many parts of the country.

We were all told to conserve water in any which way we could, only flushing the toilet once a day and re-using bath water.

And the hosepipe ban became a regular part of the British summer - but not this year so far.

So what has changed? Are people more cautious about wasting water? Have water companies found new ways of protecting the supply? Or can we expect to hear all the usual drought warnings if the hot weather continues?

WAYS TO CONSERVE WATER Wash fruit and veg in a bowl instead of running water Make sure your washing machine and dishwasher are full before you put them on Water plants in the morning or at night to reduce evaporation losses Install a water butt to collect rain water for plants Garden sprinklers use as much water in one day as a family of four in one week

According to United Utilities, which delivers water to north-west England, part of the conundrum can be explained by the growing proportion of the UK's population with water meters in their homes.

Before metering it was impossible to track how much water each individual family used in the average week, this meant home owners were less likely to identify leaks or taps that had been left running.

By installing a meter, home owners now have the ability to monitor how much water is used in their home and what for, said a spokesperson for the company.

Consumers are becoming more aware of that, for example, merely cleaning their teeth while leaving the tap running can use up to 16 litres of water.

Leakage reduced

The water companies also say the large amounts of money consumers have been asked to shell out for their supply over the last 10 years has been put to good use in updating Britain's antiquated pipeline network.

The protection of our water resource is of fundamental importance David Howarth Environment Agency

This has helped reduce leakage of millions of litres of water into the ground and improved water quality.

But environmentalists say that although the system is currently working well it should not give us reason to be complacent.

David Howarth the Environment Agency's Water Efficiency Expert, told BBC News Online: "It's all too easy to take drinking water for granted but life without it would be impossible.

"Whether it's the clean drinking water upon which we depend for survival or the healthy rivers and oceans needed to support animals, birds and fish, the protection of our water resource is of fundamental importance."