In the coming months, we'll discover whether we learned anything from the drought.

For now, though, it's hard to argue with the cautious way Durham is easing its water-use restrictions. There may be a year's supply of water, but the restrictions that remain in place are the ones that were in effect last October, when LIttle River and Lake Michie reservoirs were down to 40 percent of capacity.

Just about everyone thought the city waited far too long last summer and fall to respond. The drought isn't over yet. Another summer as awful as the last one and we'll be right back in trouble. When the temperature hits 100 and the rain stops, consumption goes up and water evaporates faster from the lakes.

Through the fall and winter, we found that our water-use habits aren't so flexible. Shorter showers, less-frequent flushings and other conservation measures cut consumption only about 10 percent or so from the corresponding period the previous year.

But some longer-term responses may make a bigger difference. The scare we just received should accelerate a shift to water-saving toilets and washers. It will encourage some people to rethink their lawn and garden plans. It will make businesses and institutions that are big water users find ways to get by with less.

Meanwhile, plans are afoot for the city to expand its ability to pipe water from Cary if need be, and to eventually dip another straw into Jordan Lake from the western side. That'll help.

A cooler, wetter summer would be welcome, too.