Uisce Éireann’s efforts in Donegal sees supply restored to 20,000 customers
27 January 2025
Information below is relevant until further updates are provided here or on our Supply and Service Updates section
Uisce Éireann crews are on the ground across Co Donegal continuing to work to restore water supplies.
We are actively sourcing and deploying generators at sites where power has not been restored. We are coordinating closely with the ESB to prioritise power restoration and we are also liaising with other agencies including the National Emergency Co-ordination Group and the local authorities.
Uisce Éireann is making significant progress restoring water supply to Donegal customers. Supply has been returned to approximately 20,000 impacted customers in recent days following the impact of Storm Éowyn.
Uisce Éireann’s Damien O’Sullivan explained that while 20,000 Uisce Éireann’s customers affected in Donegal have seen their supply return, crews are on the ground working to deploy generators and provide alternative water supplies in areas where water has been off for longer periods with 5,000 customers continuing to be impacted.
“This storm has marked the worst impact on Uisce Éireann’s network in Donegal to date and has been an extremely busy period for our engineers, supervisors, caretakers, and repair crews who have been working hard to restore water for our customers and I want to acknowledge those efforts. Their efforts have led to the majority of water treatment plants resuming normal operations, although five plants are still reliant on back up generator power.
“We apologise to customers who have been without water for a few days and ask for the public’s continued patience during this challenging time. In areas where water supply has been out for longer periods, our teams are working to provide alternative water supplies and we currently have 50 locations around the country where alternative supplies are in place. More will be deployed today, and we will be updating our website and providing information to local stakeholders about their locations.”
Damien added: “We are also providing additional supports for elderly and vulnerable customers, and we could encourage people to contact our customer care team at 1800 278 278 if additional support is needed.”
Damien is also urging customers to conserve water where possible in order to protect supply while the outages are resolved. There are some simple steps people can take to conserve their water, such as avoiding the use of water-intensive appliances during this time. To learn more about conserving water, visit www.water.ie/conserve.
Customers can stay informed about their local water supply by visiting www.water.ie, via Uisce Éireann’s X feed, @IWCare, or by signing up for our free text alert service via the website. Alternatively get in touch via our 24/7 customer care centre at 1800 278 278.
Previous Updates
Uisce éireann crews are on the ground across Co Donegal continuing to work to restore water supplies.
We are actively sourcing and deploying generators at sites where power has not been restored. We are coordinating closely with the ESB to prioritise power restoration and we are also liaising with other agencies including the National Emergency Co-ordination Group and the local authorities.
Power outages at treatment plants and pumping stations continue to impact on supplies across the county this evening, including Letterkenny, Frosses, Kilcar, Killybegs, Rossnowlagh, Gaoth Dobhair, Lettermacaward, Doochary, Fintown, Ramelton, Downings, East Inishowen, Culdaff, the Lough Mourne Public Supply Scheme and areas surrounding these towns and supplies. There are also a number of rural satellite pump stations that remain affected by power supply outages across the county which is having an impact on our customers.
Nationally, approximately 120,000 people across the country have no water this afternoon following Storm Éowyn. An additional 150,000 people are now being supplied by schemes where generators have been deployed by Uisce Éireann crews. Supplies for a further 275,000 people are at risk in areas where power is yet to be restored.
The impacts are being felt nationwide, with areas without water across the North West and in counties Kerry, Clare, Tipperary, Cavan, Monaghan, Longford and Laois. Updates on local supplies issues will be provided on the Úisce Eireann website as they become available.
Head of Water Operations at Uisce Éireann Margaret Attridge noted that while positive progress had been made overnight, the number of people now experiencing loss of supply due to power outages may increase as reservoir levels drop.
“This unprecedented storm event has had a severe impact on our water and wastewater network nationwide. Our crews are on the ground in all impacted areas working to restore water service as quickly as possible but given the extent of the damage to the power network, it may take some time before full service is restored everywhere. We ask for the public’s continued patience during this challenging time.
“In locations where water supplies have been impacted for longer periods, we are deploying alternative water supplies. Details of these supplies and their locations will be posted across our website and social media channels as they become available,” she added.
Margaret is also urging customers to conserve water where possible in order to protect supply while the outages are resolved. There are some simple steps people can take to conserve their water, such as avoiding the use of water-intensive appliances during this time.
To learn more about conserving water, visit www.water.ie/conserve.
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