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Running low
Irish Water lifts water restrictions in Skerries - but only temporarily
By Friday there was only enough spare capacity in Dublin “to fill the bottom half of Liberty Hall”.
LAST UPDATE | 11 Jun 2018
IRISH WATER SAYS it will lift water restrictions around Skerries in North Dublin, but says the outages will have to resume.
Restrictions have been in place in the area since last Thursday week due to reduced water levels in the Thomastown Reservoir.
Some residents in the area say they have had no water at all since late last week.
A statement this evening said:
“Irish Water is temporarily lifting water restrictions in Skerries and surrounding areas following previous programme of restrictions which has resulted in improved reservoir levels. However, it is likely that it will be necessary to carry out further reduced night-time restrictions on the supply from Tuesday night to avoid widespread water outages for the area.
“The easing of restrictions has been made possible because the of the positive impact on the reservoir levels through the restrictions over recent days and the conservation efforts of those members of the community who did have water.
“Irish Water together with Fingal County Council are urging those customers who do have full supply in Skerries and surrounding areas to continue conserving water for the foreseeable future due to increased demand and to help maintain water levels in the Thomastown Reservoir. Customers in the Loughshinny and Skerries Road, Rush areas are also being urged to conserve water.”
Inconvenient
Speaking on Morning Ireland today Irish Water general manager Eamon Gallen said they were trying to ensure all households had water between 6am and 10am at least but that some homes on the edge of the network may be severely affected and find themselves without supply.
The greater Dublin area had only recently recovered from the effects of Storm Emma/the Beast from the East, Gallen said. At the best of times there was very little spare capacity in the system, he said – noting that on Friday there was only enough extra capacity for Dublin “to fill the bottom half of Liberty Hall”.
“Hot weather in a seaside town” combined with a high level of horticulture in the area had led to a surge in demand in the Skerries area, he said.
Restrictions will remain in place until normal service resumes, hopefully later in the week, Gallen said.
“We know how dreadfully inconvenient this can be,” he added.
Karen Power, a resident of the Barnageeragh estate, told TheJournal.ie yesterday that water outages are a regular problem on their estate.
“We’re not able to do our washing,” she said. “And we’ve had to go buy disposable plates. It’s just so frustrating. When we turn on the tap – even in the morning when we’re supposed to have it – nothing happens.”
Power said she’d been told that issues with water pressure meant that there were problems getting water to their estate, which is on a hill.
“We can’t conserve what we don’t have,” she said.
The following locations are being impacted by the restrictions:
- Barnageeragh
- Hamilton Hill
- Town Parks Newtown Parks
- St Patricks Close
- Kellys Bay
- Skerries Rock
- parts of Downside
- Greenhills
- Millview
- Hillside Gardens
- Mourne View and Hoar Park
Water tankers are being deployed to bolster services at these locations:
- At Newtown Parks near Dublin Road Junction
- At Newtown Parks near Selskar Court Junction
- At Skerries point Shopping Centre near Eurospar
- At Millers Lane
All customers are being asked to conserve water by minimising their use generally and refraining from:
- Watering gardens
- Washing cars
- Using power hoses
“Every small effort to save water will contribute to maintaining supplies and benefit your entire community by reducing the likelihood of water restrictions,” Irish Water said.
“Irish Water would like to thank all of those users who have already undertaken to conserve water.
To help conserve water customers are being asked to report any leaks they see on the public network and to repair any private side leaks in their homes and businesses to help restore water levels in the network.
Customers can report any public leaks online at www.water.ie or by calling the customer care helpline on 1850 278 278.
- With reporting by Sean Murray and Paul Hosford
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