DESPITE recent heavy rainfall, Irish Water says that the number of schemes in drought around the country has increased from 35 to 38 and the ones in potential drought has grown from 52 to 58 since the start of the Water Conservation Order on June 8.
In Limerick, there are now eight supplies in drought and one in potential drought.
They are Abbeyfeale, Fedamore, Foileen (Cappamore), Croom (Croom Bypass and Skagh Well), Oola, Kilfinnane, Kilcolman (Rathkeale) and Cooga Spring (Doon).
The need for the Water Conservation Order was due to the exceptionally dry spring which has seen big drops in both surface and ground water levels throughout the country.
Ian O’Mahony of Irish Water told The Limerick Post that short periods of heavy rainfall, such as those experienced last week and earlier this week, are not sufficient to return raw water sources to normal levels.
“A minimum accumulation of 100mm rainfall and a return to normal precipitation levels thereafter would be needed to offset the impact of the unseasonal lack of rainfall since March,” he explained.
“We are keeping the situation under continuous review and are liaising closely with other key agencies such as Met Éireann, the OPW, the EPA, amongst others and if the situation improves we will consider lifting the Water Conservation Order. However any change is unlikely in the short term.
“Irish Water would like to thank the public for their cooperation and the efforts they have made to conserve water in their homes and gardens over the last week and to appeal to them to continue supporting us in safeguarding water for essential uses,” Mr O’Mahony added.
More details at https://www.water.ie/support/drought-support/
