Hosepipe ban is likely

A hosepipe ban is on the cards with water use on the rise for various reasons.

Irish Water has confirmed that it is “increasingly likely” that a water conservation order will have to be put in place following increased demand on water and deteriorating drought conditions.

This comes during the ongoing Covid-19 crisis when hand washing and hygiene remain critically important.

Two weeks ago, Irish Water, urged the public to choose hand washing over power washing as domestic water usage increased by an average of 20 per cent as more people were staying at home in response to the Covid-19 crisis.

Now the increased domestic demand and increase in commercial demand as businesses are reopening is being exacerbated by warm weather and the widespread emergence of drought conditions.

Since March, Irish Water has been carefully monitoring all of its raw water sources. Of Irish Water’s 900 drinking water schemes, 16 currently are in drought and 38 are at risk of going into drought. The weather forecast is for continued dry conditions which will exacerbate the situation and Irish Water’s data shows spikes of water usage on very sunny days.

To instigate a water conservation order, strict criteria must be met under the Water Services Act 2007. Irish Water needs to be able to demonstrate that a serious deficiency of water available for distribution exists or is likely to exist.

Irish Water Operations Lead Neil Smyth said: “The prolonged dry weather has exacerbated the demand on water. A drought means that the water sources like rivers, lakes, springs and ground water that supply the treatment plants are struggling, so at a time when all of the water we produce is being used, the amount we can produce is under threat in several areas around Cork.

“Imposing a water conservation order is not a measure that Irish Water wants to take but it is increasingly likely that we will have to do so. It is essential that our water supply is protected if we are to avoid restrictions and outages over the coming weeks and months.”