Yorkshire Water says reservoir levels are rising

But the amount of water in the region's manmade structures is still below the level expected for this time of year, according to Bradford-based Yorkshire Water.

Environment Agency data shows that Yorkshire experienced more rainfall in September and October than it did across the four-month period between April and August this year.

Reservoir levels visibly dropped drastically over the summer, as a result, with 12 drought permits issued in and around the Bradford district back last month.

Low water levels at the Leeshaw Reservoir in the Worth Valley in October (Image: UGC)

But there have been a number of yellow weather warnings for rain in Bradford issued by the Met Office in recent weeks, as conditions have turned from unusually mild and dry to what would normally be expected in the autumn and winter period.

Bradford Beck at Shipley has even reported higher than normal water levels, at 0.42 metres, with a fairly moderate level of rainfall at three measuring gauges in Bradford and the wider district (Bradford Chellow Heights, 12.3 millimetres in past 24 hours; Halifax Ogden Reservoir, 12.4mm; Thornton Moor Reservoir, 19mm).

This changing picture has meant reservoir levels in Yorkshire have gone up by 19 per cent in the past six weeks.

But it is still under the volume they need to be at and the region is still officially classed as within drought.

Grimwith Reservoir in Craven in October (Image: UGC)

Yorkshire Water has been working closely with the Environment Agency to obtain additional drought measures, which the company says when paired with the additional rainfall, has helped raise the levels of some reservoirs.

Granville Davies, manager of water and catchment strategy at Yorkshire Water, said: “Reservoir levels are moving in the right direction – we're seeing some significant increases week on week as the rainfall, drought permits, additional leakage activity, and support from our customers to save water, help them to top up.

“We have had more rain recently than the previous summer months, but that rain doesn’t always fall evenly across the whole region – meaning that in some areas, such as South Yorkshire, reservoir levels are still much lower than we would hope.

"We’re using our extensive network of pipes to move what we can around the region, but we have applied to the Environment Agency for additional measures to help us balance stocks in that area too.

“It’s really important that we all continue to save water where we can – small changes in habits will help give reservoirs the best chance possible to top up this winter, ahead of the warmer months in Spring and Summer next year."