Appeal to conserve water as temperatures to hit 30 degrees by mid week

Homeowners in County Cavan and across the country are being urged to conserve water this week to prevent a shortage as temperatures are set to reach 30 degrees Celsius by mid-week in the current heatwave.

Irish Water is appealing to the public to conserve water as a prolonged dry spell has been predicted by Met Éireann (see latest weather forecast as of 1pm today below). A statement from the company reads as follows: 'In several areas around the country where water supplies were already under pressure, warm weather has exacerbated this situation.
'Demand for water is increasing while levels in rivers and lakes are dropping significantly which means that is there is less water available to treat and supply to homes and businesses. This year has seen extended dry spells and Met Éireann has compared this to 1976 when drought conditions were experienced across the country.
Irish Water’s Drought Management Team are monitoring water supplies and demand around the country on a daily basis.
'Already some areas in Athlone, Kilkenny and north Dublin have experienced outages and restrictions and areas in Donegal and Mullingar have been identified as being at risk.
'In the Greater Dublin Area, where Irish Water can sustainably produce 610 mega litres of water per day, demand has risen to concerning levels. In the summer of 2017, an average of 565 mega litres of water per day was used. However, last Friday in the Greater Dublin Area 602 mega litres of water was used which is very close to the limit of sustainable production.'
Commenting on the ongoing situation, Irish Water’s Corporate Affairs Manager, Kate Gannon said: “If demand does not decrease we will start to see homes and businesses experience shortages as happened in Skerries in recent weeks. The longer this continues, the more people will be at risk of shortages and outages.”
She continued: “Irish Water’s Leakage Reduction Programme has teams are on the ground now but we also need the public’s support to reduce their water usage. The top three measure that people can take are not using a hose to water the garden or wash cars; keeping paddling pools very shallow if they are being used; and taking short showers rather than baths.”
“Our Drought Management Team are monitoring the situation daily across the country but if everyone can take these simple steps, it will help us to manage supply and demand. This is a very serious situation and we are seeking the public’s help. Every effort the public make to conserve water will benefit them and their community.”
 

Long spells of hazy sunshine today with just some high cloud. A very warm day with top temperatures of 24 to 26 degrees, generally, but fresher and cooler in some coastal areas, due to onshore sea breezes.

A dry and humid night with clear spells and just a few patches of shallow mist. Minimum temperatures of 12 or 13 degrees in light winds or calm conditions.

Very High

High or very high for today, Monday.

 

Tuesday will be a very warm day, with spells of hazy sunshine in all areas. Top temperatures 24 to 26 degrees generally, but a little fresher and cooler in coastal areas, due to onshore sea breezes.

High pressure will persist throughout the coming week, giving dry settled conditions. Warm or hot by day, with spells of hazy sunshine each day. But very close and sticky at night. 

Tuesday night: A close, humid night with lowest temperatures of 11 to 14 C., in slack variable or easterly breezes; some clear spells, but possibly some patches of shallow mist also. 

Mostly sunny from Wednesday to Friday inclusive, but the sunshine is likely to be hazy in nature at times, due to some high clouds. Daytime temperatures are expected to be in the mid to high twenties quite widely, possibly a little higher locally on some days. But values will be a little lower in coastal areas, with afternoon sea breezes, so feeling a little fresher and possibly more bearable. The nights will be close and humid too, with temperatures, at their lowest, remaining in the low to mid-teens, sometimes higher. 

Little change in most places for next weekend. So staying dry, warm and fairly sunny. But temperatures may fall back to the high teens or low twenties by day, in some northern areas, where northerly breezes may freshen.