Dubliners to face water restrictions from tonight

Nightly restrictions on water supply are to be implemented across the entire Dublin region from tonight due to a serious problem at one of the country's biggest water treatment plants.

The restrictions will result in both lower water pressures and the “likely” loss of supply, a statement on behalf of Dublin’s four local authorities said last evening.

The restrictions will be in place from 8pm this evening to 7am tomorrow morning and will “likely” be in place until “at least” Monday. This is to assist the council in replenishing treated drinking water levels to a normal level.

“We will be shutting off supply each night this week in order to conserve supplies,” said the statement. “While we will make every effort possible to maintain pressures during peak demand periods, pressures will be reduced during the times indicated.”

The "serious production problem" arose at Ballymore Eustace Water Treatment Plant in Co Kildare last weekend. The problem at the plant has caused "a significant reduction" in water production since.

The local authorities said they have introduced reductions in water pressure during the night in an effort to replenish storage levels, but this “has not achieved the desired effect”.

The situation will be reviewed on a daily basis but the statement urged consumers all over the Dublin region to conserve water.

“We are working assiduously to identify the cause of the problem and to mitigate the effects, but it may take some time to completely resolve the issue.”

The local authorities stressed there is “no problem with the quality of treated drinking water or with storage levels of untreated/raw water”.

The four local authorities apologised for any inconvenience caused and said they would “do everything possible to minimise the scale and duration” of the problem.