Weather to become warmer and wetter

WEATHER CONDITIONS are set to improve over coming days with water storage levels in reservoirs continuing to rise.

Tonight will start off wet with rain in all areas, according to Met Éireann which predicted the weather would become warmer and wetter over the coming week.

Temperatures will dip to -3 degrees tonight, but improve as the week goes on.

Further wet and windy weather, is expected over the coming weekend.

Dublin City Council said the water situation was continuing to improve yesterday. Broken mains were being found and fixed but there remained problems on private property which were the responsibility of property owners.

The council said restrictions would have to continue at least up to next weekend, as the pipe repair process continues. It was possible that the restrictions could be lifted on a phased basis this week, it said. This would largely depend on the impact of the return of schools and colleges from this morning.

Elsewhere local authorities said water leaks were being fixed progressively with a number, such as Cork City Council reporting the end of night-time restrictions. Co Clare which was badly affected by leaks said the situation was back to normal in nearly all areas.Water would be restricted at Corofin and Ruan from 8.00pm to 8.00am.

Wicklow County Council said there was an ongoing need to restrict supplies in a number of areas at night time. Co Laois, which was also badly affected, continues to experience problems in a few areas. In Mountmellick pressure is low as a result of leaks, while water loss is still excessive in Portarlington. In Ballinasloe, Co Galway, a precautionary boil water notice was in place at the weekend. In Galway city reservoir levels have recovered but the council last night restricted water supplies from the the Ballybane and Briar Hill reservoirs. This will be reviewed this morning.