Appeal to save water in Ireland due to ‘pressure’ in warm weather

A nationwide appeal has been issued to people in the Republic of Ireland to help protect the country’s water supplies ahead of an expected spell of warm weather.

Water supplies are now in drought status across several counties in Ireland.

Uisce Éireann (Irish Water) said the water network is experiencing increased pressure on supplies across several regions including Donegal, Dublin, Limerick, Tipperary, Waterford, Cork, Galway, Meath, Westmeath, Clare and Wexford.

Water conservation orders have been in place for Milford in County Donegal, Mullingar in County Westmeath and Kells-Oldcastle in County Meath since May.

NI Water is also asking people to be mindful of water usage over the weekend.

Forecasters are predicting a heatwave this weekend, with temperatures possibly reaching over 25C.

Uisce Éireann said the aim of its appeal is to remind the public that saving water does not have to be difficult.

“We’re committed to ensuring a reliable water supply throughout the summer months, and the support of our customers is an important element to achieve this,” Margaret Attridge, Uisce Éireann’s head of water operations, said.

“In the days and weeks ahead, we would appeal to customers to take the opportunity to really consider their water usage and reflect on the daily and easy actions they can take to play their part in ensuring our water resources are used wisely and in a way which benefits not only your own household but also the wider community.”

She said that “while the warmer weather is certainly a welcome change, it does place additional demands on our water supplies”.

Uisce Éireann has the following water saving tips for households:

• Water the garden with a watering can, not a hose
• Wash the car with a bucket and sponge
• Turn off the tap while brushing teeth
• Take shorter showers
• Ensure appliances like dishwashers and washing machines are fully loaded

NI Water has said its reservoirs are in a “healthy position” for this time of year, with its overall storage sitting at 78%.

However, a spokesperson said there is a concern that “sustained high temperatures can create a huge demand surge from lots of properties trying to use vast quantities of water at the same time”.

They said that if thousands of households try to “use large quantities of water at the same time, the treatment works and distribution system can begin to struggle to keep up with demand”.

“If you think of your own water use, you may be using more water intensive equipment, such as power hoses, sprinkler systems, large pools,” the spokesperson said.

“If you couple that with the fact that a lot of people will be off work enjoying the bank holiday weekend, it can lead to a massive demand for water that our treatment works simply cannot supply.”

Ahead of the weekend, NI Water said businesses and households could consider putting off water intensive activities.

Businesses that are closing up for the bank holiday weekend are asked to check their meters which can indicate if they have a leak on their property, ensure taps are off and that toilets are urinals are not leaking.