Warm spell puts strain on supplies in Leitrim

Uisce Éireann is appealing to customers in South Leitrim to conserve water after a sharp rise in demand placed pressure on local supplies.

The utility said usage by households and businesses has increased significantly in recent days, affecting supplies in Leitrim Village, Ballinamore, Keshcarrigan, Drumshanbo, Carrick-on-Shannon, Mohill, Carrigallen and surrounding areas. Customers are being asked to use water sparingly to give reservoirs time to replenish and ensure supplies remain stable.

Kevin Love of Uisce Éireann said the warm weather was contributing to the surge in demand. “With the current spell of warm weather we are continuing to ask customers across the county to conserve water to give the reservoirs time to replenish. Any reduction that customers can make in their usage can collectively result in significant supply improvements for all homes and businesses,” he said.

He added that small changes can make a significant difference. “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.”

Among the measures recommended are watering plants with a can instead of a hose, washing cars with a bucket and sponge, turning off taps while brushing teeth, switching to showers rather than baths, shortening shower times, and ensuring dishwashers and washing machines are fully loaded before use.