Demand for drinking water in Dublin close to capacity, says Irish Water

Daily demand for drinking water in the Greater Dublin Area, which has a population of 1.7 million people, is close to the capacity of the network, Irish Water has said.

The utility was commenting as some areas across the midlands and south saw tankers deployed or night time restrictions put in place to conserve water.

The areas affected included Bennettsbridge and Clogh Castlecomer in Kilkenny; Coalbrook in Tipperary; Clonaklilty, Roberts Cove, Whitechurch and Coppeen in Cork; Wexford Town and Bunclody in Wexford; Inis Oírr in Galway; Swan in Laois, as well as Carran in Clare, and Cooga Spring and Doon in Limerick.

The utility also says it is monitoring supplies in a range of locations across the State where supply is said to be on a knife edge.

Tánaiste admits ‘significant’ issue with water quality in Cork city

---

Privatising monopoly public utilities makes no sense

---

Anglers oppose new home plans over fears of sewage overflow into river

---

No ‘do not drink’ notices have ever been imposed on public water supplies due to toxic chemical levels

---

The Utility said the average daily requirement of the Dublin region, which includes Co Dublin and parts of Meath, Kildare and Wicklow, has reached 600 million litres in the past week as the country experiences a period of exceptionally hot weather.

Ireland on Tuesday recorded its hottest temperature in more than a century as parts of Dublin reached 33 degrees, according to Met Éireann. A status yellow high temperature warning remains in place across the country as it faces another day of high heat.

However, while Irish Water can produce a maximum of 615 million litres per day for the Greater Dublin region — or 15 million litres a day ahead of demand — the utility has expressed confidence in the system. It noted the longer term average demand for drinking water by homes and businesses, over a 30-day period, was 584 million litres per day.

Asked about balancing supply and demand in the capital, the utility said it is “currently producing treated water to the levels that are needed”.

Tom Cuddy, head of operations with Irish Water, said the main sources “are in a healthy shape”.

Irish Water said drinking water customers in parts of Kilkenny, Tipperary, Cork, Wexford, Galway and Laois were most at risk of drought during the current hot spell.

However, the utility said the “vast majority” of its 750 water treatment plants continue to meet the demand for water supply, as hot weather sees an increase in water usage across the country.

Irish Water is also closely monitoring a number of other schemes, including Letterkenny in Donegal and areas in West Galway, Cork, Limerick and Waterford.

Meanwhile, the Environmental Protection Agency has said the warm weather has brought a deterioration in air quality which is potentially harmful to human health. Pat Kenny, manager of the authority’s air quality monitoring unit, said the hot, still weather gives rise to increased levels of the chemical ozone (O3) which can be particularly harmful to those who have breathing difficulties such as athsma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Mr Kenny said increased ozone levels had been recorded at monitoring stations in Waterford city, at Carnsore Point in Co Wexford and at Mace townland in Co Galway. The levels of ozone had risen in recent days to the point where the air quality at Mace had changed from good to fair.

A further threat to the ambient air quality was from the possibility of scrub fires, he said.

Data from Met Éireann shows that temperatures soared to 33C at Phoenix Park in the capital on Monday, making it provisionally the hottest day ever recorded in July.

It also breaks the high temperature record for the 21st and 20th century.

It said: “Phoenix Park has broken the highest 21st temperature record with 33C which is Ireland’s highest of 2022 so far and 12.8C above normal.

“This is only 0.3C below the all-time 135-year-old record set at Kilkenny Castle in 1887. Temperatures may still rise further.”

In Phoenix Park on Monday, families flocked to Dublin Zoo as temperatures reached the low 30s, with children and adults buying 99s to help cool off.

Jackie, who works at the toy stall across from the zoo, said that her stalls are in the shade now, but the sun will come around by 4pm.

She said: “It’ll be boiling. It’s always very hot in the evenings here. But there’s a nice little breeze coming up the hollow now.”

Lucy, 13, who also works at the stall said the high temperatures worry her.

She added: “It kind of freaks me out a bit. I’ll be able to go out and enjoy it, but it is on my mind a bit.” — Additional reporting PA