An appeal to Kilkenny public to reduce water use mid drought conditions

Information below is relevant until further updates are provided here or on our Supply and Service Updates section

Uisce Éireann is appealing to the public in County Kilkenny to conserve water as over 51 water supplies across the country are now officially in drought status.

Uisce Éireann is actively monitoring all water supplies across County Kilkenny, where several sources are under pressure. Bennettsbridge and Clogh-Castlemoner are currently in drought status, while Mooncoin and Jamestown are at high risk of entering drought conditions.

To maintain normal supply levels, Uisce Éireann has implemented a range of interventions, including tankering water to reservoirs, nighttime restrictions, and pressure management.

These measures are essential to safeguard water availability and ensure continuity of service during this prolonged dry period.

By taking some simple steps to conserve water at home, in the garden, and at work, everyone in Kilkenny can help protect the water supplies for their community.

These include:

• Leave the hose and power washer in the shed and use a watering can for the garden. Running a hose for one hour uses the same amount of water as a family needs for a full day.
• Use a bucket and sponge instead of a hose or power washer when washing your car.
• Don’t let the tap run: Brushing your teeth with the tap running can use up to 6 litres per minute. Turning off the tap reduces this to just 1 litre.
• Shower vs. Bath: A bath uses 80 litres of water compared to 49 litres for a seven-minute shower. Switching to showers saves water.
• Less time: Reducing your shower from five to four minutes can save up to 7 litres of water per day.
• Fully loaded: Always ensure your dishwasher and washing machines are fully loaded. A washing machine uses approximately 65 litres per cycle, while a dishwasher uses 20 litres.

Shane Aylward, Uisce Éireann, said: “Water levels in many sources are well below normal for this time of year, following a drier-than-average autumn, winter, and spring. The recent dry spell has further increased demand, putting added pressure on our network and reservoirs. We’re working hard to protect and maintain supplies through the summer, but we also need the public’s help. If everyone in Kilkenny takes a few simple steps to reduce water use at home and in the garden, we can stretch our resources further and help maintain a normal supply.”

To help people learn more about saving water, Uisce Éireann has developed an easy-to-use conservation calculator so they can work out how much water they are currently saving and how they can conserve even more. The calculator is available here, where there are also lots of useful water saving tips.

Members of the public can report any leaks in the public water network by contacting Uisce Éireann 24/7 at 1800 278 278 or on our website.