UISCE Éireann has confirmed that a Water Conservation Order will be extended to all counties including Donegal from 12.01am this Friday, July 24 until Wednesday, August 26.
The nationwide extension is being introduced to help protect public water supplies now and in the months ahead for homes, businesses, farms, hospitals, vulnerable customers and essential services.
The recent hot weather predicted to continue, combined with low rainfall, is driving exceptionally high demand and intensifying pressure on water sources and treated drinking water supplies. Uisce Éireann continues to take all measures to keep water flowing by maximising production, repairing leaks, tankering water, and operating the network to minimise outages and protect supplies.
In recent weeks, Uisce Éireann introduced a number of measures across Donegal to maintain and protect supplies. This included enhanced leakage repair works, pressure management, and public water conservation campaigns, in an effort to reduce demand to sustainable levels.
Restrictions remain in place on the Lough Mourne and Pettigo public water supply schemes impacting supply to customers in the Twin Towns, Crossroads, Convoy, Lifford, Raphoe, Rossgier, Pettigo and surrounding areas overnight. Customers in these areas are urged to continue using water responsibly to help safeguard supplies.
Uisce Éireann would like to thank customers across Donegal for their continued water conservation efforts.
Anthony Skeffington, Water Regional Operations Senior Manager with Uisce Éireann, said: “We are asking everyone across Donegal to use only what they need and to avoid any non-essential water use until conditions improve.”
The extended order will apply to all households and is being extended because raw water sources in many areas around the country are coming under increasing pressure following a prolonged period of exceptionally hot and dry weather.
Nighttime restrictions are also currently in place on 53 of 700 water supplies mainly in areas where local sources are under pressure.
The order prohibits the use of a hosepipe or similar apparatus for activities such as watering a garden, cleaning a private motor vehicle, cleaning a private leisure boat, filling or maintaining a domestic swimming or paddling pool, filling or maintaining a domestic pond, excluding fish ponds, and filling or maintaining an ornamental fountain, except where required for commercial purposes.
Uisce Éireann is continuing to ask customers to take practical steps to conserve water at home, including taking shorter showers, fixing leaks and leaking toilets, and avoiding the use of hosepipes or sprinklers in the garden. Using a garden hose or sprinkler for just one hour can use more water than the average family uses in a full day.
As the Water Conservation Order is being extended nationwide, it applies to all public water supplies across the country for the specified period. Uisce Éireann’s customer care team remains available for all customer queries.
They would also ask the public to report any leaks they see on the public network which may be visible in the dry conditions by contacting Uisce Éireann at 1800 278 278 or on the Uisce Éireann website.
Customers can also use Uisce Éireann’s online water calculator to better understand their household water use and identify simple ways to save water every day.
Further updates and water conservation advice are available at water.ie/conservation.