Uisce Éireann has issued a renewed appeal to households, farms, and businesses across the country to conserve water as Ireland enters a stretch of warm, dry weather that is already placing significant pressure on water supplies.

In recent weeks, water demand has surged across many areas of the country, particularly in Tipperary, Cork, Wexford, Kilkenny, and Waterford, where water sources are significantly below normal levels for this time of year.

With river and groundwater levels already low following a drier-than-average autumn, winter, and spring, Uisce Éireann has warned that the coming summer weeks could see increased restrictions and supply interruptions unless conservation efforts are widely adopted.

Pressure Mounts Across Tipperary and Beyond

In South Tipperary, several Water Supply Schemes including Glenary, Poulavanogue, Ardfinnan, Galtee, and Fethard, serving more than 45,000 people, are currently under severe strain. “We’ve seen a clear increase in water use since early June,” said Pierce Faherty, Water Operations Manager for Uisce Éireann in Tipperary. “These supplies are already stretched, and while we’ve had some rainfall, it hasn’t been enough to undo the effects of the prolonged dry period.”

The utility is actively working on network improvements, doubling its efforts in leak detection and repair, but says public cooperation is essential. “If everyone makes small changes—whether at home, in the garden, or on the farm—we can reduce pressure on the network and maintain normal supply through the summer,” Faherty said.

Night-Time Restrictions and Supply Management

In areas like Clonakilty, Castlecomer, and parts of East Cork, night-time water restrictions have already been introduced to allow reservoirs to replenish. These measures typically see supplies reduced or turned off from around 9 p.m. to 9 a.m., with customers experiencing lower pressure or temporary outages.

“We appreciate this can be inconvenient,” said Shane Aylward, Water Operations Manager in Kilkenny, “but it’s a necessary step to ensure everyone has access to water during the day. We’re asking customers in affected areas to be mindful of their use and to report leaks quickly.”

In Clonakilty, restrictions from 10 p.m. to 7 a.m. are now in place nightly in areas such as Inchinattin, Carrigfadda, and Tullig. Similar measures are active in Castlecomer and surrounding areas of Co. Kilkenny.

High Demand in East Cork and Wexford

In East Cork, supplies in Castlemartyr, Cloyne, Garryvoe, and Knockadoon are struggling under high demand. “We’re increasing monitoring and fast-tracking repairs, but we need the public’s help,” said Niall O’Riordan, Uisce Éireann’s Water Operations Manager for Cork.

Likewise, in Wexford, communities in Gorey and Taylorstown are being asked to conserve water to prevent further restrictions. Padraig Lyng, Operations Manager in the region, noted that reduced groundwater levels and increased usage have prompted the deployment of leak detection crews and increased monitoring.

Practical Steps to Save Water

Uisce Éireann has released a series of practical water-saving tips for households and businesses. These include:

Use a watering can instead of a hose in the garden; a running hose can use more than 500 litres in just one hour.
Switch to showers: Showers use half as much water as a typical bath.
Turn off taps: Leaving the tap running while brushing your teeth can waste up to six litres per minute.
Check for leaks: Look for signs such as persistent wet patches outside the home, and fix dripping taps or running cisterns.
Load up your appliances: Only run your dishwasher or washing machine when full to save both water and energy.

For those looking to track their water usage and find personalised advice, Uisce Éireann has developed a conservation calculator available at www.water.ie/calculator.

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