Uisce Éireann appeals to the public in Co Waterford to help reduce water use

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

Cappoquin now in drought, with low pressure and reduced supply expected

Uisce Éireann is appealing to everyone in Waterford to be mindful of their use of water.

Following an increase in water usage by households and businesses, customers are being asked to be mindful of their usage, allow supply to catch up with demand and enable reservoirs to fully replenish.

Uisce Éireann is closely monitoring all water supplies across the county. Cappoquin has now moved to drought status and will experience low pressure and reduced supply. Other areas, including Ballylaneen, Ballymacarby, Clashmore, Grallagh, Kill, Kilrossanty, Lacken, Lemybrien, Rathgormack, and Tinnabinna, are at high risk of following. To help maintain normal supply, Uisce Éireann is implementing measures such as tankering to reservoirs, nighttime restrictions, and pressure management.

Maura Phelan, Uisce Éireann Water Operations Manager in Waterford, said: 

“Water demand has noticeably increased across Waterford in recent days. With the warm weather continuing, we’re asking customers across the county to conserve water and give supplies time to recover. Even small changes in how we use water can make a big difference, helping to improve supply for everyone.
We’re doing everything we can to protect and maintain water supplies throughout the summer, but we also need the public’s support. If everyone in Waterford takes a few simple steps to reduce water use at home, in the garden, and at work, we can make our water go further and help maintain normal supply for all.”
 

For more simple ways to conserve water, check out the Uisce Éireann conservation calculator (water.ie/calculator)  which can help people work out how much water they are currently using and how they can conserve even more. 
 

Below are some easy water-saving tips: 
•    Leave the hose in the shed: Drop the hose during the summer months. Use a rose head watering can to water your plants instead of a hose or sprinkler. Running a hose for just one hour uses as much water as a family would typically need in an entire day.
•    Bucket and sponge for your car: Using a bucket and sponge to wash your car can save hundreds of litres of water compared to using a hose or power washer.
•    Turn off the tap: Brushing your teeth with the tap running wastes up to six litres of water per minute. Turning it off while brushing can reduce that to just one litre. 
•    Switch to a shower: Showers use about half the amount of water as baths. Invest in water saving appliances such as water efficient taps and shower heads.
•    Shorter showers: With the average shower using seven litres of water per minute by turning your five-minute shower into four minutes, you could save up to seven litres of water per day.
•    Fully load your appliances: Always ensure your dishwasher and washing machine are fully loaded before use. A typical washing machine uses approximately 65 litres of water, and a dishwasher uses around 20 litres per cycle. By ensuring they are fully loaded, not only will you conserve water, but you will also reduce your energy bills. 
•    More information on water conservation can be found at https://www.water.ie/conservation/ 
Members of the public can report any leaks in the public water network by contacting Uisce Éireann at 1800 278 278 or online at Report a Leak 
 

Uisce Éireann is committed to keeping customers informed across multiple platforms 24/7. We encourage customers to engage with us through our website, X channels (@IWCare and @IrishWater), Facebook, LinkedIn, and our customer care helpline, which is open 24/7 at 1800 278 278.