We take our water supply for granted.

So when we turn on the tap and find nothing coming out, we tend to panic. Worse still, we could find ourselves with no supply and water pouring through the ceiling from a burst pipe.

These are common occurrences in cold winter weather, and ones which Yorkshire Water tries hard to prevent.

Last winter the Bradford-based company received thousands of calls about frozen and burst pipes, with around a third relating to private supplies on householders’ properties, which they themselves are responsible to maintain and fix.

This month, as part of its Are You Winter Ready? campaign, the company gave out vital tips to help customers prevent burst pipes, and also issued information on how to cope should it happen. They urge people to look out for any pipes and taps that might be exposed to freezing temperatures including outdoor taps, pipes linking to internal water meters or running through unheated, draughty areas such as lofts and cellars.

“These pipes may be in the garage, a garden shed, in the loft,” says company spokesman Hannah Stoneman. “Take a look around your house to find the pipes in places where temperatures could drop below zero degrees centigrade. And don’t forget to look for water tanks and cisterns in unheated places as these also need to be protected.”

Foam lagging, available from DIY stores, can easily be cut to length and used to wrap around pipes and taps.

“Awkward bends and taps can be protected using cloths or towels, and special covers are available for any exposed taps,” adds Hannah. “Cisterns and water tanks can be lagged too.”

The company urge people to keep central heating on constantly, at a low temperature. “Heating your home is expensive, but so is a burst pipe,” the company advises. “If severe weather is forecast, set the heating to your usual level, day and night. Pipes can freeze very quickly during a cold snap. If you are going away, set your heating to come on for at least an hour every day.”

Although the company is not required to fix private pipes, which generally extend from an individual’s home to their boundary, there have been occasions during particularly harsh winters, such as that in 2010, when they have helped out.

The network of supply pipes running across the Bradford district is more resilient than ever thanks to an investment of around £100 million. But harsh winters that are predicted to become a regular occurrence in the UK have led to an additional investment being specifically made to tackle leaks and bursts.

“In the last five years we have invested an average of around £25 million each year to maintain, replace and improve ageing water pipes across the region,” says Hannah.

In 2010 the company – which operates 32,000km of pipes across Yorkshire – began a £39 million programme of investment to increase the robustness of its pipes. Altogether 12.8km of pipes were replaced in Bradford, Keighley and Leeds.

Sophisticated technology is also used to control water pressure and flow and to inspect water pipes for any potential problems.

The work is already paying dividends, with leakage across the network reduced by 17 per cent in the past three years.

In addition to other techniques, the company uses telemetry to helps identify and locate bursts on the network far quicker than before. Telemetry systems can remotely monitor areas such as groundwater, leaks, water flow and pressure.

In addition, teams of technicians and field crew are constantly out and about across the region detecting and repairing leaks.

Despite their success in driving down leakage rates, the company is not complacent. “We recognise there is more to do,” says Hannah, “Leakage reduction remains a focus for us and in the year up to April 2014, a further £20 million will have been invested to ensure it is kept under control.”

Yorkshire Water also has a fleet of 4x4 vehicles on standby to fix bursts in winter weather. The company also gave away 2000 special winter-ready packs this year, containing essential lagging and a tap cover to help prepare for cold snaps.

Advice is available on the company’s website as to what customers can do if they are experiencing low pressure or have no water. Short films are also played on the website, in which a family demonstrates how to protect your home in winter.

For more information visit yorkshirewater.com/your-water-services/are-you-winter-ready.aspx or call the helpline on 0845 573553. If you spot a leak, call 0800 57 3553 or go to yorkshirewater.com/leaks.