A nationwide hosepipe ban will take effect at 12.01am on Friday, 24th July, as Ireland’s continuing warm and dry weather places increasing pressure on public drinking water supplies.
Uisce Éireann has extended the existing Water Conservation Order to every county including Tipperary. The restrictions will remain in force until Wednesday, 26th August, although the duration may be reviewed depending on weather conditions and the availability of water.
The order previously applied to the Greater Dublin Area, south Tipperary and parts of Kildare, Meath, Wexford and Wicklow. Its expansion means households throughout the country must now avoid using hosepipes or similar equipment for non-essential purposes.
Prohibited activities include watering gardens, washing private cars or leisure boats, filling domestic swimming pools and paddling pools, and operating ornamental fountains or garden ponds. Commercial uses that require water as part of a business activity are exempt from certain restrictions.
The measure follows an extended period of high temperatures and increased water consumption. Several groundwater sources are experiencing reduced yields, while demand in some regions has exceeded the amount of treated water that can be produced locally.
Targeted overnight restrictions have also been introduced in a number of areas to allow reservoirs to recover and maintain daytime supplies for homes and businesses.
Uisce Éireann is asking the public to limit unnecessary water use by taking shorter showers, repairing leaking taps and toilets, turning off taps while brushing teeth, and running washing machines and dishwashers only when full. A garden hose or sprinkler can use a substantial amount of water in a single hour.
Met Éireann forecasts indicate that temperatures are expected to remain above seasonal averages overall, increasing the importance of conserving supplies for households, hospitals, farms, businesses and other essential services.
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