Pressure eases on Dublin water supply but restrictions to remain

The threat of overnight water shortages in Dublin is expected to ease today, but restrictions introduced on Thursday night will remain in place, according to Dublin City Council.

The Good Friday closure of pubs and many other businesses yesterday was expected to allow water levels to rise. Many Dublin residents have also gone away for the bank holiday weekend, further reducing demand, the spokesman said.

City council employees are meanwhile repairing cracks in the public mains caused by the recent cold weather.

However, nightly restrictions from 10pm to between 7am and 9am will stay in place until Tuesday, the spokesman added. “There will still be restrictions since levels are not at a sustainable level yet.”

The restrictions are causing reductions in water pressure of varying severity. Homes in higher locations are more likely to lose water supply.

The council said it was difficult to say how many homes lost supply, since this was also dependent on where homes were located along the mains and whether their neighbours had been using much water. “If you are at the end of the system, and if there is high demand along the way, then you may be without water,” the spokesman said.

The council appealed to people to keep down their water usage by not leaving taps running, washing vegetables in a basin of water and putting on full loads when using washing machines and dishwashers.

The restrictions have become necessary to ensure adequate water reserves after leakages resulting from pipes cracking in the cold weather. There has also been a problem at the Roundwood water treatment plant.