Offaly hosepipe ban extended for further month

Uisce Éireann has confirmed that the Water Conservation Order for Offaly will be extended until the end of September, as water sources and public water supplies in the county remain under pressure and need more time to recover.

The current nationwide order, commonly known as a hosepipe ban, is due to expire at Wednesday, August 26. However, the order will remain in place in Offaly and 12 other counties where continued protection of water supplies is required.

The other counties are Carlow, Cork, Dublin, Kildare, Kilkenny, Laois, Limerick, Meath, Tipperary, Waterford, Wexford and Wicklow.

The extension is subject to prevailing weather conditions and the availability of water for distribution.

The Water Conservation Order was introduced on July 24 following a prolonged period of hot and dry weather, high water use and growing pressure on public water supplies. While increased rainfall and the public’s conservation efforts have improved conditions in many parts of the country, supplies in parts of the east and south remain under pressure.

Water supplies in Offaly continue to experience pressure as elevated demand coincides with delayed replenishment of raw water sources. Operational measures, including night-time restrictions on a number of schemes, remain necessary to maintain continuity of supply. Extending the Order will help manage demand while protecting essential water services, Uisce Éireann said.

James Joyce, Water Treatment Operations Manager with Uisce Éireann, thanked communities across Offaly for their support:

“We recognise the effort that people have already made to conserve water, and we sincerely appreciate their continued support.

“Although conditions have improved in many parts of the country, Offaly water sources and public water supplies need more time to recover. Extending the Water Conservation Order will help us protect the water that is available and reduce the risk of disruption to customers.

“We are asking everyone to continue using only the water they need and to avoid non-essential use. Every drop saved will help protect local supplies and keep water available for essential daily needs.

“Simple actions can make a real difference. Taking shorter showers, fixing dripping taps or leaking toilets, running washing machines and dishwashers only when full, and using a watering can instead of a hose will all help.”

Uisce Éireann is continuing to take operational measures to maintain supplies. These include maximising water production, repairing leaks, moving water by tanker where necessary and managing the network to reduce the risk of outages

The public can help by reporting visible leaks on the public water network to Uisce Éireann on 1800 278 278 or through water.ie. Further water conservation advice is available at water.ie/conservation.

The Order prohibits the use of water drawn through a hosepipe or similar equipment for:

Watering a garden.

Cleaning a private motor vehicle.

Cleaning a private leisure boat.

Filling or maintaining a domestic swimming or paddling pool, except where hand-held containers filled directly from a tap are used.

Filling or maintaining a domestic pond, excluding fishponds.

Filling or maintaining an ornamental fountain, except where required for commercial purposes.

Filling or replenishing an artificial pond, lake or similar feature.