Householders, industry and tourism providers in Kerry have been warned that water levels are at their lowest "in memory" and to expect shortages if there is not substantial rainfall soon.
The shortages will be severe, according to the county council which issued a warning notice to the public entitled "Kerry Water Supplies Depleted".
Mr Colm Mangan, senior executive engineer of the water services department, said the council was appealing to customers to conserve water.
Supplies were at their lowest levels in memory throughout the county, Mr Mangan said. The council had never had to issue such a severe warning before, he remarked.
"The most worrying aspect is the fact that shortages do not usually happen until late summer. We are very worried this year we are going to be in serious trouble," he added.
Alternative water sources have had to be found for the village of Anascaul on the Dingle peninsula. Duagh in north Kerry and Camp in west Kerry are both severely affected. Alternative arrangements were temporary and could not expect to hold out if the dry weather continued, Mr Mangan said.
Ongoing "drought" conditions meant water supplies were seriously depleted, and a number of the council's 70 public supplies are expected to go dry over the next weeks, Mr Mangan said.
Lough Guitane, near Killarney, which supplies 10 million gallons a day is already at a lower level than is usual for the time of year.
"Last October we were worried about Lough Guitane. We are very concerned now and it is only June," Mr Mangan said.
The council has appealed to customers to use the water sparingly, to check for leaks and wastage. Farmers and house holders should check outside taps for faulty washers and leaks. They have also been told to avoid watering lawns and washing cars so as to conserve supplies.
Customers are to expect night-time curtailments in supplies.
Private water supplies from wells and streams are also under threat, with wells at their traditionally low autumnal levels.
The Western Regional Fisheries Board has warned of the possibility of major fish kills because of drought conditions, writes Tom Shiel.
Any run-off of silage effluent or other polluting matter, according to the board, could have devastating impacts at this time, as very low rivers cannot dilute the effluent.