Uisce Éireann has said nighttime restrictions on water will come into effect in some parts of the country tonight.
The restrictions come as a high temperature warning is in effect in 13 counties, with a second warning for 10 counties set to take effect tomorrow.
“Unfortunately, nighttime restrictions are a reality in some parts of the country already.
“North Kildare, for example, we will have to shut off certain areas for approximately 12 hours from 6pm to 6am in places like Allenwood, Prosperous,” Uisce Éireann’s Regional Operations Manager Stephen Bourke said.
“Similarly the Cooley Penunisula is another area where demand has got really high. Unfortunately we need to restrict supply at night time so we can replenish the resevoirs.”
Uisce Éireann said earlier that the imposition of nighttime restrictions in the Greater Dublin area were being considered and may be introduced if the level of water usage is not reduced.
It said that water is being consumed quicker than it can be produced and replenished in local reservoirs, and said they are doing everything they can to avoid nighttime water restrictions.
The water utility added that they are “considering” a hosepipe ban.
A Status Yellow high temperature warning for 13 counties will be in place until 7am tomorrow.
That warning covers Carlow, Kildare, Kilkenny, Laois, Longford, Meath, Offaly, Westmeath, Wexford, Cork, Limerick, Tipperary and Waterford, with temperatures expected to reach as high as 30C in places.
The new Status Yellow high temperature warning will come into effect from 1pm tomorrow until 7am on Monday and will cover Clare, Cork, Kerry, Limerick, Tipperary, Galway, Mayo, Kilkenny, Laois and Offaly.
A hosepipe ban is under consideration during the continued dry conditions (Photo: Collins)
Met Éireann said highest daytime temperatures could reach higher than 27C, while at night temperatures could stay as high as 15C.
A Met Éireann weather advisory said the prolonged spell of hot weather will last into next week.
The forecaster said heat stress and uncomfortable sleeping conditions can be expected. It also warned of water safety issues as people flock to lakes and beaches, as well as the possibility of forest fires.
Appeal to homes and businesses
Uisce Éireann is urging people to conserve water in six regions that have a total population of almost two and a half million.
These areas are the Cooley Peninsula, west Cork and parts of north Cork, the Greater Dublin area, south Leitrim and Tipperary.
Speaking on RTÉ’s Saturday with Cormac Ó hEadhra, Uisce Éireann’s Stephen Burke said the utility is preparing for the possibility of a hosepipe ban.
“It is great to have the hot weather, but we have a very big ask of the population and that is to do everything they can possibly to do help us conserve water,” he said.
“We are doing everything we can to avoid restrictions at the moment.”
He said the introduction of a water conservation order or hosepipe ban “is not off the table”.
“Our real ask is to put away the hose,” he said.
He said Uisce Éireann has ramped up resources and have people working around the clock at plants and networks, finding and fixing leaks and optimising pressure.
Yesterday, the utility said the increase in water usage is being driven by a combination of garden watering, power hosing and other outdoor domestic use and that the pattern of continued high use is increasing risk to supplies.
It said reservoir levels are dropping by up to 30 million litres on peak usage days, which it said shows the need for urgent conservation.