Irish Water lifts hosepipe ban

Following recent heavy rainfall and improving river and ground water conditions Irish Water has lifted the Water Conservation Order, more commonly known as the hosepipe ban that was put in place with effect from 9 June.

The Water Conservation Order was issued in a bid to safeguard water supplies for essential purposes, in particular water needed for sanitation purposes during the COVID-19 crisis.

Earlier this week, Irish Water again met with key groups including Met Éireann to discuss the forecast and the OPW and EPA who monitor the levels of lakes and rivers to review and assess their data.

The Water Services Act, which allows for a Water Conservation Order, requires Irish Water to ‘form the opinion’ that ‘a serious deficiency of water available for distribution exists or is likely to exist’.

Following a review of Irish Water data together with the latest information from Met Éireann, the OPW and the EPA, the utility is now in a position to remove the Water Conservation Order from 5pm on Wednesday 8 July.

When the Water Conservation Order was issued, 27 of Irish Water’s 900 drinking water schemes were in drought with another 50 at risk of going into drought. Thereafter the situation deteriorated rapidly with the number of schemes in drought or at risk of drought peaking at 98.

Commenting on the lifting of the Water Conservation Order, the Managing Director of Irish Water Niall Gleeson said,

'We would like to thank the public for their efforts in conserving water in their homes and gardens over the past number of weeks and to remember those good household habits should the good weather return.

'Thanks also to our large water users who have worked proactively with us to use water more efficiently in their businesses. We are grateful for their diligence at this time.'