Water cuts likely over four weeks

Householders in the greater Dublin area will experience restricted supplies of water from midnight tonight for up to four weeks. There will be widespread reductions in water pressure in counties Wicklow and Kildare as well as Dublin city and county.

The councils say a 10 per cent reduction in water usage will "significantly" reduce any adverse impacts of the reduction in service. It is hoped to confine severe disruption to night hours, between 11 p.m. and 6.30 a.m.

In Dublin city pressure reductions are as follows: the north east city on odd dates, the north west of the city on even dates and the south west of the city on odd dates. In the south east city there will be general periodic reductions. In the South Dublin County Council area, reductions will be widespread with a warning that the higher areas of Lucan and Palmerstown will be slower to return to normal after each cutback in pressure. Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council has also warned of widespread reductions as has Wicklow County Council.

Kildare County Council has divided the area into zones. Zone A, which includes Brannockstown, Celbridge South, Clane, Johnstown, Kill, Naas, Prosperous (East) and Sallins, will be restricted on February 24th and on even dates thereafter.

Zone B, which includes Allenwood, Carbury, Kilcullen, Kildare, Newbridge, Prosperous (west), Rathangan and Robertstown will be restricted on odd calandar dates.

Fingal County Council has divided its area into Area 1 and Area 2. Area 1 will have reductions on even dates. Area 1 includes Blanchardstown, Castle knock, Clonsilla and Mulhuddart. Area 2 includes Balbriggan, Baldoyle, Donabate, Howth, Kilbarrack, Malahide, Portmarnock, Rush, Santry, Sutton and Swords. These areas will be restricted on odd dates.