Uisce Éireann customers in Ramelton, Milford and Kerrykeel are being urged to continue to conserve water due to ongoing low water levels at Lough Colmcille, the area’s water source.
Customers are being asked to be mindful of their water usage, allow supply to catch up with demand and enable reservoirs to fully replenish. High usage can lead to pressure reductions which can impact the supply to customers.
Uisce Éireann’s Water Network Operations Manager, Damien O’Sullivan explains: “The local community will have noticed that water levels in Lough Colmcille remain lower than usual for this time of year. This is due to significantly reduced rainfall over the past six months combined with a noticeable increased in water demand in Milford over the past couple of years as a result of growth in the area.
“While it may often feel like Ireland gets plenty of rain, the data shows we’ve experienced an unseasonably warm and dry autumn and winter.
“As a result, the lake has not had its usual seasonal recharge, and we are heading into the summer months with lower-than-average water levels. In response, we have increased our efforts in leakage detection, pipe repair, and overall network management.”
Damien continued: “We have taken a number of steps to reduce demand and supplement Milford from nearby supplies to allow for Lough Colmcille to replenish. There has been a 40 per cent reduction in abstraction from Lough Colmcille since last October. We have also deployed extra resources to finding and fixing critical leaks in the water network.
“However, we are appealing to customers in Ramelton, Milford, Kerrykeel, and surrounding areas to think about their water usage and make efforts to conserve water. As temperatures rise, so too does our water consumption.
“To protect supply we are asking everyone to be mindful of their water use. Even small changes—like turning off the tap while brushing your teeth, only running dishwashers and washing machines with full loads and fixing a leaking tap can make a meaningful impact and help reduce the pressure on the lake. Working together, we can help protect this vital resource.”
Conservation calculator
Uisce Éireann has developed an easy-to-use conservation calculator to help people find out how much water they’re saving and what they can do to save even more. Check it out at water.ie/calculator.
This is also a good time for people to spot any leaks outside their home or business. Uisce Éireann’s first fix free scheme may provide for a free leak repair on private property where such a leak is identified. We would especially appreciate those who have been contacted for a free leak investigation engage with us to resolve potential leaks.
There is information on the scheme, along with lots of easy-to-follow water-saving tips on water.ie. To report leaks in the public network, or for more information, the Uisce Éireann helpdesk is available 24/7 at 1800 278 278.
Uisce Éireann has a free text service, providing real-time updates for local issues. Customers can sign up with their Eircode and mobile number at the text alerts page.
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