It is not only rain that sparks moans and groans from the British public.

Settled spells of hot weather almost always prompt grumbles about hosepipe bans and water shortages.

This year, those fears have been fuelled by the driest March for almost 60 years, and April is on course to be the warmest for more than a century.

Easter Bank Holiday weekend saw record-breaking temperatures as people across the country flocked to the beach.

It is understandable that, for some people, such prolonged weather conditions bring back memories of previous water shortages, in particular the drought of 1995, when water companies across the UK resorted to extreme measures to keep supplies running.

But consumers need not worry. “Despite the dry spell, water resources in the region are quite normal for this time of year,” says company spokesman Matt Thompson, “It has been incredibly dry for the past few weeks, which does put pressure on the system, but reservoirs are 84 per cent full at the moment, so they are still very healthy.”

He stresses, however, that there is no room for complacency. “We are monitoring them very carefully as well as closely looking at demand and watching the weather.”

Demand rises during dry periods, as has been the case over the past few weeks. “We saw a spike in demand over the Easter Bank Holiday,” says Matt, “People are more thirsty during dry periods, and use more water in other ways such as watering the garden, topping up fish ponds and filling paddling pools.”

Staff speak regularly to meteorologists for short and long-range weather information. “I recently spoke to meteorologist Paul Hudson, who told me that a very dry spring often collapses into a wet summer,” says Matt.

Even if the dry weather continues, however, supplies would not be so quickly depleted as they were 11 years ago. Following the drought, the company heavily invested in a robust network of pipes that can keep supplies to its 4.4 million customers – who on average each use 138 litres every day – from drying up.

“We are different to other water companies and are very lucky in that we have a unique underground grid that moves water around the region. We can move supplies from west to east, north to south, and vice-versa, to areas where it is needed most,” explains Matt.

Yorkshire Water looks at the places from which they can source water in the cheapest possible way, making use of downhill gravitational feeding systems which are far less costly than pumping supplies on an upward gradient.

The grid links more than 95 per cent of customers and has ensured that restrictions have not been imposed for 13 years.

Water is not drawn from reservoirs alone. Says Matt: “We extract water from boreholes in the east of the region, and rivers in the north and in parts of West Yorkshire, so we have three sources of water.”

Bradford’s drinking water is sourced from a number of reservoirs, including Scar House and Angram in Nidderdale, and Upper and Lower Barden near Embsay, as well as water from the River Wharfe.

Reservoirs can be low for reasons other than dry weather, he adds. “Some people pass a reservoir and are shocked if the level is low, but often there is a simple explanation. We carry out improvement work on reservoirs, some of which are almost 100 years old, and have to drain them so workers can operate safely,” says Matt, “And sometimes we will focus on a particular reservoir for supplies to an area – it may be that it is closest, or operates on a gravitational feed.”

Since 1995, the company has also reduced leakage by 45 per cent – enough to meet the daily demands of a city the size of Leeds.

The long-range forecast is for unsettled conditions, but whether rain or shine, Yorkshire Water encourages customers to save water where possible.

“Customers have responded really well in helping to save water – they have been fantastic and we would like to thank them for that,” says Matt, “Some even send in their own tips.”

Details of how to save – often using simple measures such as not running the tap while brushing your teeth, making sure your washing machine is fully loaded and using a watering can rather than a hose – are available on the company’s website, yorkshirewater.com/ save-water.

“We are working really hard to manage resources in the region, however whatever the time of year, we always ask customers to use water wisely,” adds Matt.