WITH up to 15 areas in County Limerick experiencing a severe depletion of water supplies, Irish Water is urging local people to conserve water as drought conditions are likely to continue over the coming weeks.
Night-time restrictions are currently in place in areas across the region along with tankering to top up some water supplies that are dangerously low.
Areas under severe pressure include Ardpatrick, Ballylanders, Bruree, Caherconlish, Cappamore, Croom, Doon, Fedamore, Galbally, Herbertstown, Hospital, Kilfinnane, Kilmallock, Oola and Pallasgreen.
Irish Water Operations Lead, Duane O’Brien said they are appealing to residents, businesses and the farming community in Limerick to reduce their water usage as the situation worsens.
“We are asking people to be sensible about how they use their water so that we have enough for everyone during the daytime and that the businesses of Limerick can continue to operate as normal.
“It’s important that we all consider our water usage and look at simple yet impactful ways to conserve water. 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.
“To help people do this, Irish Water has developed an easy-to-use conservation calculator so that you can work out how much water you are currently saving and how you can conserve even more. The free Water Conservation Calculator is available on the Irish Water website, www.water.ie, where you can also find lots of useful water saving tips.
“We will continue to work with our colleagues in Limerick City and County Council to monitor and manage supplies across the county to ensure the people in the area have a safe and reliable water supply throughout the summer and into the autumn,”
In the meantime, the public is being asked to:
• Avoid power washing and keep the garden hose in the shed
• Take shorter showers and refrain from baths unless absolutely necessary
• 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 please refrain from using at this time and if already filled 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 278 278.
• 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 the location and repair of external leaks. Details at water.ie or call 1800 278 278
