With more hot weather due over the weekend and into next week Irish Water is asking the public to continue their efforts to conserve water.
While the majority of Irish Water’s 750 water treatment plants continue to meet the demand for water supply there has been a steady increase in the number of supplies that are being impacted by drought conditions. And the number of locations experiencing restrictions is likely to increase over the coming days and weeks as demand remains high due to the hot weather.
At present there are 37 supplies nationwide where Irish Water is implementing measures to ensure taps keep flowing. In most cases, there is still no impact on customers but there are a small number of locations where overnight restrictions are in place. These include parts of West Cork, Kerry and Galway.
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In addition to areas where there are active interventions taking place there are over 60 supplies around the country that are being closely monitored by Irish Water to ensure that normal supply is maintained for the rest of the Summer and into Autumn.
Tom Cuddy, Irish Water’s Head of Asset Operations, said, “We would like to thank the public for their support in conserving water to date and remind everyone to continue to take some simple steps to reduce their usage. By reducing our water use, for example turning off the hose and avoiding power washing, we can all help to avoid further restrictions and ensure there is enough water for homes and businesses, agriculture, fisheries and essential amenities as we go through the rest of the Summer and into Autumn.
“We will continue to monitor the levels at all our supplies over the coming weeks and take any actions that may be necessary to maintain supplies, including communicating about localised issues or restrictions as they arise. The list of locations experiencing drought conditions will also be updated regularly on www.water.ie where people can find out about their local water supply.”
To help people learn more about saving water we have developed an easy-to-use conservation calculator so they can work out how much water they are currently saving and how they can conserve even more. The calculator is available on the Irish Water website at www.water.ie/calculator where you can also find lots of useful water saving tips.
Members of the public can report any leaks in the public water network by contacting Irish Water 24/7 at 1800 278 278 or on water.ie
There are a number of easy steps to reduce water usage during the hot weather, including:
- Avoid power washing and keep the garden hose in the shed
- Check for leaks on outdoor taps or troughs as these can lead to large losses of treated water
- Remember that paddling pools and swimming pools can use huge volumes of water so consider reusing the water for the garden or cleaning the car.
- Report any visible leaks on the public network to Irish Water at water.ie or call 1800 278 278.
- Where householders experience very low flow or pressure, lower than neighbouring properties, they may have a service pipe leak. Irish Water’s First-Fix-Free Scheme can help with the location and repair of external leaks. Details at water.ie or call 1800 278 278
MORE WATER SAVING TIPS:
At home:
- Take a shorter shower
- Fix dripping taps or leaking toilets in your home
- When brushing your teeth or shaving, turn off the tap and save up to 6 litres of water per minute
- If you need to wash your car, use a bucket and sponge instead of a hose
- Report any external leaks to Irish Water at 1800 278 278. No leak fixes itself and every leak gets progressively worse. The escaping water can weaken the ground or cause slippery footpaths and roads. The leaking water reduces the supply pressure for adjacent properties. What looks like a small leak at the surface can be using the equivalent to 20-30 households.
In the garden:
- Save and reuse water collected from baths, showers, and hand basins in the garden
- In the garden use a rose head watering can instead of a hose and aim for the roots
- Consider installing a water butt to collect rainwater – this can then be used for watering the garden during dry weather
- Water in the evening when it won’t evaporate
- Pots and containers need lots of water to prevent drying out so plant directly into the ground as much as possible
- Another good tip is to add a layer of plant material, like bark, to your flower bed to prevent evaporation and reduce the need for watering
On the Farm
- Fix troughs – Watch out for overflowing drinking troughs as they can waste significant amounts of water. Adjust the ball valves to lower the float or replace faulty parts.
- Dry cleaning: Save water when cleaning the yard by using dry-cleaning techniques. Use scrapers and brushes to remove solid waste from yards and pens before hosing. You can also use a small amount of water (e.g. one bucket) to pre-soak waste before cleaning.
- Clean plate cooler water: If you own a dairy farm, you can divert clean plate cooler water to a tank and use it for parlour washing
- Consider Rainwater Harvesting - rain from the roofs of farm buildings can be used for a variety of activities such as washing down yards. Consider the level of rainwater quality required for specific water uses on the farm (e.g. plant nurseries and field irrigation) and the surfaces and contamination risks before you consider installing appropriate rain water harvesting, treatment (filtration and UV) and storage systems.
- Take action to protect water sources: Avoid contamination of surface waters by reducing or eliminating access to livestock by fencing off watercourses. Pollution containing animal faeces can affect the water environment, nutrients and soil. Destroyed bankside vegetation can also contribute to flooding.
- There are lots more water saving tips for farmers on our website at https://www.water.ie/conservation/business/business-conservation-tips/agriculture/
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