LAST UPDATE | 19 Jul 2021

PEOPLE HAVE BEEN urged to conserve water while temperatures remain high and demand increases. 

Irish Water said there have been urgent appeals for conservation in a number of counties including Wexford, Kerry and Donegal.

Night time restrictions are in place in Portlaoise and a small area of Longford to ensure daytime supplies stay consistent.

However, there are no current plans to implement a water conservation order, otherwise known as a hosepipe ban. 

The majority of supplies in the greater Dublin area remain “stable”, Irish Water said, despite high levels of demand. 

Yesterday, people in north county Dublin experienced water outages as Irish Water worked to resolve a drop in treated drinking water levels in a number of reservoirs.

People in Garristown, Ballymadun, Tobergregan, Baldwinstown, Palmerstown and surrounding areas were impacted by low water pressure or outages up to 10am today.

Tom Cuddy, Irish Water’s head of asset operations, said: “With temperatures remaining high we have seen demand for water double in some areas from what would be normal – in particular tourist hotspots in popular coastal regions. 

In some areas of the country with large increases in demand Irish Water has seen demand for water outstrip the level of water we can produce, resulting in levels of treated water in our reservoirs falling.

Cuddy said night time restrictions have been brought in for these instances.

Homes and businesses in Louth have been left without water following a “major burst” in a water main in Drogheda. 

Irish Water said it is working with Louth County Council to repair the burst, and has reconfigured the network to allow reservoirs supplying the area to refill. 

The areas that have been impacted by the disruption include:

• Ballsgrove Estate
• Donore Industrial Estate
• Trinity Street
• Patrick Street
• Lourdes
• Drogheda Town North
• Cord Road
• Cross Lane
• Ballymakenny Road
• Sandyford
• North Quay
• Termonfeckin
• Clogherhead
• Termonabbey
• Newfoundwell Road
• Ballymakenny Road

Donal Heaney of Irish Water said: “The repairs are being conducted as quickly and efficiently as possible to minimise disruption to the community in Drogheda and restore water for all customers.

“We understand the inconvenience unplanned outages can have on customers and we appreciate your patience as we work to return the water supply to homes and businesses as quickly as possible.”

Irish Water’s customer care helpline is available on 1800 278 278. 

Customers can also contact them with any queries @IWCare on Twitter. 

With reporting by Orla Dwyer.