Disruption nationwide to last into next week

DISRUPTION TO water supplies across the country is set to last well into next week as local authorities continue to appeal for water conservation.

Problems are severe in the Dublin region where supplies to a number of areas will continue to be rationed over coming days.

Dublin City Council which distributes an average of 540 million litres of water a day said it pumped just 531 litres on Saturday, meaning nine million litres were conserved in the city’s reservoirs.

However, a spokesman warned it could be up to three months before supplies in the reservoirs were back to normal levels, and pressure could be ramped up to assist in the detection of leaks.

The council said areas in the northeast of the city, from the M1 down as far as Artane were still without water or are on reduced pressure.

The council’s main objective was to get water back to everybody. But it would probably take five months to eliminate leaks in pipes.

Tankers will continue to distribute water where needed and this will be managed “on an equitable basis in different parts of the city at different times”, said a spokesman.

South Dublin County Council which has the State’s second lowest level of leaks at 19.79 per cent, after Co Limerick at 16.83 per cent, said at the weekend that water had been restored to all areas but would be restricted from 7pm to 7am

Customers should remember they have 24-hour storage capacity in their overhead tanks, the council said.

Night time water supply will also continue to be restricted in the Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown and Fingal administrative areas for the coming week and some areas will also experience day time disruption, the councils said

Wicklow County Council said supply would be turned off between 11.00pm and 7.00am in Ashford, Rathnew, Wicklow, Newtownmountkennedy, Newcastle, Kilpeddar, Kilcoole, Killincarrig, Greystones and Bray.

Meath County Council said there are tankers in place in locations in Navan and Dunshaughlin but that supply was returning over the past weekend. Shut-offs would also take place at night.

Limerick County Council says that demand has been reduced in recent days and is in balance with production. Water levels in reservoirs remains low

In Westmeath water supplies are expected to be turned off overnight in most areas including Athlone and Mullingar until the situation improves.

In Donegal water supplies were showing signs of stabilising in most areas while demand remained above normal. Problems continue to be experienced with outdoor service lines, services to field troughs and outbuildings and vacant properties. The council urged members of the public to check taps and service lines at home, in outbuildings and in fields, and in vacant premises.

In Co Clare water tankers were in use in parts of Shannon, Ennis and Kilrush at the weekend. The council said demand has increased by approximately 20 per cent during the current cold spell, with most of Clare County Council’s water treatment plants at or near production capacity.

Cork City Council said demand is high due to leaks. Night-time restrictions have been in operation. Restrictions will continue to be imposed after 8pm with supply restored in the morning.