AFTER this month’s unseasonal downpours, it is tempting to take water for granted. But Yorkshire Water says in the long term climate change and population growth threaten to drain the county’s resources unless measures are taken to prepare for it. Which is why the company has launched its efficiency campaign, Save A Little, Save A Lot, and it is good to see them looking so far ahead.

Much of the focus is on infrastructure and reducing leaks, but Yorkshire Water says individuals can also do their bit by finding ways to use water wisely. Some of the tips make surprising reading. For instance, installing a water butt can save 2,400 litres a year, while things such as taking a shower instead of a bath saves 35 litres.

Multiply this sort of thing by five million, the number of people Yorkshire Water supplies, and the numbers soon stack up.

Unlike some of the world’s poorest nations, we don’t always appreciate how precious a regular supply of clean water is. Ensuring it continues will need a change of heart and a change of habit. But it doesn’t entail any form of sacrifice.

To quote a well-known supermarket chain: Every little helps.