National hose pipe ban from Friday morning
Irish Water will impose a hosepipe ban from 8am tomorrow morning (Friday), July 6 and it will remain in place until midnight on Tuesday, July 31, for all Irish Water customers as a drought continues across the country.
The ban will apply to all domestic public water supplies and commercial premises for non-commercial activities such as watering gardens attached to a business premises. It does not apply to private wells or private group water schemes. Those found flouting the ban are liable for a fine of up to €125.
The scope of this National Water Conservation Order is the same as the one applied to the Greater Dublin Area (GDA) on Monday, July 2. It is the first time that Irish Water has imposed a nationwide ban.
Met Éireann has advised that there has been little or no rain over the last 30 days and predictions show no significant rainfall is likely for at least a further week, meaning deepening drought conditions.
The release from Irish Water further explained: 'High levels of sunlight means significant evaporation levels on water sources. The average soil moisture deficit is currently 60mm nationally, which means, even if it did rain, no water would reach our water sources as it would be absorbed by the ground. The continuation of these drought conditions nationally is putting pressure on water sources as rivers, lakes and groundwater levels drop.'
Kate Gannon, Irish Water Corporate Affairs Manager & Water Conservation expert, explains why a National Water Conservation Order is required to help protect water supplies now and over the coming months:
Demand
On average demand across all water resources nationally has increased by 15%. 'Given the environmental pressures on the aquifers and waterbodies, this cannot be sustained for any period of time,' the statement further explains.
The prohibited uses are as follows:
Use of water drawn through a hosepipe or similar apparatus for the purpose of –
1. watering a garden
2. cleaning a private motor-vehicle using a domestic hosepipe
3. cleaning a private leisure boat
4. filling or maintaining a domestic swimming or paddling pool (except when using hand held containers filled directly from a tap)
5. filling or maintaining a domestic pond (excluding fish ponds)
6. filling or maintaining an ornamental fountain (with the exception of such use for commercial purposes)
7. filling or replenishing an artificial pond, lake or similar application.
'Irish Water thanks the public for their conservation efforts to date and we continue to encourage and support the public in their efforts to reduce usage. We are grateful for all measures that have been taken in homes and businesses,' concludes the statement.