Essential overnight restriction for Ashbourne, Ratoath, Kilbride to help reservoir levels recover

Information below is relevant until further updates are provided here or on our Supply and Service Updates section.

Uisce Éireann, working in partnership with Meath County Council, advises customers in in Ashbourne, Ratoath, Kilbride and surrounding areas that an essential overnight water restriction is required tonight to help reservoir levels recover following the recent burst coupled with current high demand for water as a result of the current warm spell.

To help reservoir levels recover and maintain a sufficient water supply to homes and businesses during normal working hours, customers may experience reduced water pressure from 10pm tonight, Monday, 19 June until 6am tomorrow morning.

Water levels will be reviewed again tomorrow morning to determine if further water supply restrictions are required. 

Customers in the following areas may be affected:

Ashbourne, Cabinhill, Ballybin, Rayestown, Crakenstown, Ratoath, Cheeverstown, Fleenstown Little, Priest Town, Belgree, Harlockstown, Mullinam, Folistown, Ballymacarney, Loughlinstown, Blackwater, Sutherland, Warrenstown, Piercetown, Ballybin, Lagore Little, Kilrue, Gormanstown, Grange, Fidorfe, Ratoath Manor, Glascarn, Ballyhack, Paddock, Peacockstown, Tankardstown, Jamestown, Brownstown, Legagunnia, Commons, Killester, Crickstown, Ennistown, Fleenstown Great, Twentypark,  Muckerstown, Balfestown, Baltrasna, Painestown, Colvinstown Macetown, Rathfeigh, Cookstown, Skreen, Slanestown, Oberstown, Proudstown, Edoxtown, Kilmoon, Collierstown and surrounding areas.

It can take two to three hours following low pressure for normal supply to be fully restored to all areas as water refills the network. 

For simple ways to conserve water check out the Uisce Éireann website where our conservation calculator (www.water.ie/calculator) can help people work out how much water they are currently saving and how they can conserve even more. 

Uisce Éireann will continue to monitor the levels at all our supplies over the coming weeks and months and take any actions that may be necessary to maintain supplies, including communicating about localised issues as they arise.

Uisce Éireann acknowledges that there have been a frequent number of water supply disruptions in this area and to reduce the disruptions in the longer term, a project to replace over 7km of water mains that are prone to frequent bursts and outages is progressing and expected to be completed by the end of the year. The old water mains are being replaced by larger, modern, more resilient pipes which will also address low water pressure particularly for customers in Ratoath during periods of peak demand. The project also involves the construction of a new, state-of-the-art, elevated 4.7 million litre treated water storage reservoir and secondary disinfection system, adjacent to the existing Windmill Hill Reservoir.

Members of the public can report any leaks in the public water network by contacting Uisce Éireann 24/7 at 1800 278 278 or on water.ie.

Uisce Éireann are asking the public to help play their part in protecting essential water supplies for their local communities.

There are a number of easy steps people can take to reduce their water usage during the hot weather, including: 

• Avoid power washing and keep the garden hose in the shed
• Check for leaks on outdoor taps or troughs as these can lead to large losses of treated water
• Remember that paddling pools and swimming pools can use huge volumes of water so try to minimise the amount of water used and consider reusing the water for the garden or cleaning the car.
• Report any visible leaks on the public network to Uisce Éireann at www.water.ie