Water cuts could be lifted tomorrow

More than 1.5 million residents of the Dublin region will learn tomorrow whether their water services are to be restored.

Following a week of nightly cuts, the council will decide if supplies of treated water have recovered to the extent that the 8pm to 7am restrictions can be lifted.

The cuts were introduced this day last week following production problems at the Ballymore Eustace water treatment plant, which provides more than 55 per cent of water for the greater Dublin region.

A change in the character of the water in Poulaphouca reservoir, which feeds the Ballymore Eustace plant, meant water production had to be slowed down to ensure proper filtration.

The water had smaller particles of sediment than normal and these were not being fully caught by the filters used in the first stage of treatment. As a solution, the council began changing the filters more frequently, which slowed down the treatment process.

The Restaurant Association said its members had been badly hit, as they needed water in the evening. A number of city councillors said their constituents were waiting up to 6pm to have tap water restored. The council said it had had few complaints.