People of Limerick urged to reduce their water usage

Uisce Éireann is urging the people of Limerick to continue making every effort to conserve water as drought conditions are causing a severe depletion of water supplies. 

Night-time restrictions are currently in place in areas across the region along with tankering to top up some water supplies that are dangerously low.

Areas under severe pressure include Ardpatrick, Ballylanders, Bruree, Caherconlish, Cappamore, Croom, Doon, Fedamore, Galbally, Herbertstown, Hospital, Kilfinnane Kilmallock, Oola and Pallasgreen.

The public is being asked to:

• Avoid power washing and keep the garden hose in the shed
• Take shorter showers and refrain from baths unless absolutely necessary
• 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 please refrain from using at this time and if already filled consider reusing the water for the garden or cleaning the car
• Report any visible leaks on the public network to Uisce Éireann at water.ie or call 1800 278 278. 

Where householders experience very low flow or pressure, lower than neighbouring properties, they may have a service pipe leak. Uisce Éireann's First-Fix-Free Scheme can help with the location and repair of external leaks. Details at www.water.ie or call 1800 278 278

Speaking about the urgent need to conserve water, Uisce Éireann's Operations Lead, Duane O'Brien said: "We are appealing to residents, businesses and the farming community in Limerick to reduce their water usage as the situation worsens. We are asking people to be sensible about how they use their water so that we have enough for everyone during the daytime and that the businesses of Limerick can continue to operate as normal.

"It's important that we all consider our water usage and look at simple yet impactful ways to conserve water. It can sometimes be difficult to know where to start, but even small changes can make a significant difference - and we can all play our part. To help people do this Uisce Éireann has developed an easy-to-use conservation calculator so that you can work out how much water you are currently saving and how you can conserve even more. The free Water Conservation Calculator is available on the Uisce Éireann website, www.water.ie, where you can also find lots of useful water saving tips.

"We will continue to work with our colleagues in Limerick City & County Council to monitor and manage supplies across the county to ensure the people in the area have a safe and reliable water supply throughout the summer and into the autumn,"

The Uisce Éireann customer care helpline is open 24/7 on 1800 278 278 and customers can also contact us on Twitter @IWCare with any queries. For updates, please visit the Supply and Service Updates section of our website. 

MORE WATER SAVING TIPS

At home:

• Take a shorter shower
• Fix dripping taps or leaking toilets in your home
• When brushing your teeth or shaving, turn off the tap and save up to 6 litres of water per minute 
• If you need to wash your car, use a bucket and sponge instead of a hose
• Report any external leaks to Uisce Éireann at 1800 278 278. No leak fixes itself and every leak gets progressively worse. The escaping water can weaken the ground or cause slippery footpaths and roads. The leaking water reduces the supply pressure for adjacent properties. What looks like a small leak at the surface can be using the equivalent to 20-30 households.

In the garden

• Save and reuse water collected from baths, showers, and hand basins in the garden
• Use a rose head watering can instead of a hose and aim for the roots
• Consider installing a water butt to collect rainwater - this can then be used for watering the garden during dry weather
• Water in the evening when it won't evaporate
• Pots and containers need lots of water to prevent drying out so plant directly into the ground as much as possible
• Another good tip is to add a layer of plant material, like bark, to your flower bed to prevent evaporation and reduce the need for watering 

On the Farm

• Fix troughs - Watch out for overflowing drinking troughs as they can waste significant amounts of water. Adjust the ball valves to lower the float or replace faulty parts. 
• Dry cleaning: Save water when cleaning the yard by using dry-cleaning techniques. Use scrapers and brushes to remove solid waste from yards and pens before hosing. You can also use a small amount of water (e.g. one bucket) to pre-soak waste before cleaning. 
• Clean plate cooler water: If you own a dairy farm, you can divert clean plate cooler water to a tank and use it for parlour washing 
• Consider Rainwater Harvesting - rain from the roofs of farm buildings can be used for a variety of activities such as washing down yards. Consider the level of rainwater quality required for specific water uses on the farm (e.g. plant nurseries and field irrigation) and the surfaces and contamination risks before you consider installing appropriate rain water harvesting, treatment (filtration and UV) and storage systems. 
• Take action to protect water sources: Avoid contamination of surface waters by reducing or eliminating access to livestock by fencing off watercourses. Pollution containing animal faeces can affect the water environment, nutrients and soil. Destroyed bankside vegetation can also contribute to flooding. 

There are lots more water saving tips for farmers on our website at https://www.water.ie/conservation/business/business-conservation-tips/agriculture/.

Uisce Éireann is responsible for the delivery of all public water and wastewater services in Ireland. We are committed to continuously upgrading and developing critical infrastructure to support the growth needed in housing and across our economy, while protecting the environment and safeguarding water supplies.