NORTH West Water is forking out a further £10 million to protect essential supplies as the region continues to suffer from a lack of rainfall.

This brings to £85 million the company's investment in projects to keep the water flowing despite the lack of rain.

Since April 1995, the North West has had just one month of above average rainfall and, according to Manchester Weather Centre, such conditions are only likely to occur once every 300 years.

Over the last 13 months the region has had just 61pc of expected rainfall, the driest period since records began.

Reservoir stocks for the North West are still on 68pc, compared with 92pc at this time last year.

Across the region many reservoirs are still less than half full.

In Bolton the reservoirs contain, on average, just 45 per cent of capacity.

Despite recent wet weather, April was another month of below average rainfall.

To keep the water flowing the water authority has brought an extra 50 million litres of water a day into the supply and will increase this to well over 100 million litres by the summer.

It has also increased the detection and repair of leaks and now expects to save 65 million litres a day by June and complete 43 projects designed to beat the drought.

To report leaks ring LeakLine on 0800 330033. NWW now provides a free repair service to customers with leaks on their property.

Mr Peter Birtwistle, NWW's general manager for water supply said: "We believe that with the measures we have taken we can maintain essential supplies throughout the summer. But we need the continued co-operation of our customers."

"We are particularly grateful for our customers' help in identifying leaks. Since we opened LeakLine at the beginning of April, nearly 2,000 leaks have been reported."

He added: "By the time this investment is completed, we will be able to meet future demands without the need for any restrictions on the use of water by our customers, even if we get a repeat of these unprecedented weather conditions.'

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