Irish Water lists the areas in Ireland most at risk of drought

Take note.

Water usage in Ireland has increased noticeably in many areas over the past number of days, particularly in seaside resorts and agricultural areas. Irish Water has said demand is likely to remain high through July and August and has called on the public to conserve water in order to maintain supplies. While Irish Water said that the vast majority of its water plants continue to meet demand, there are some areas of the country which are of concern. There are 12 areas currently most at risk of drought, mainly in the Midlands and South East of the country including:

• Bennettsbridge and Clogh Castlecomer in Kilkenny
• Coalbrook in Tipperary
• Clonaklilty, Roberts Cove, Whitechurch and Coppeen in Cork
• Wexford Town and Bunclody in Wexford
• Inis Oirr in Galway
• Swan in Laois
• Carron in Clare

Irish Water is also closely monitoring a number of other schemes, including Letterkenny in Donegal and areas in west Galway, Cork, Limerick and Waterford. A range of measures such as tankering and night time restrictions to protect supplies and ensure water keeps flowing to homes and businesses have been implemented in some of these areas already. Demand for water in Dublin has increased by 4% on average in the last week alone, but Irish Water has said supplies for the Greater Dublin Area are healthy. “We would like to thank the public for their support in conserving water and ask that they continue to conserve over the summer months," Tom Cuddy, Irish Water’s Head of Asset Operations, said. "It can sometimes be difficult to know where to start, but even small changes can make a significant difference – and we can all play our part. "By reducing the water used for example turning off the hose and avoiding power washing we can all help ensure there is enough water to for everyone as we go through the summer." The public are asked to implement the following measures to help conserve water:

• 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 1800-278278.
• 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 location and repair of external leaks. Details at water.ie or call 1800-278278.