The Irish Water Board Water has lifted all remaining Water Conservation Order restrictions in the Southern, Eastern and Midlands regions met today following a review of the data.
The data shows a reduction in demand, the availability of water resources and the prevailing weather conditions which means that the conservation order can now be lifted. The Water Conservation Orders took effect on 1 September 2018 and were due to conclude at midnight on 30 of September 2018.
However, increased rainfall has meant that the Water Conservation Orders can now be lifted. Rainfall rates have returned or are returning to average rates for this time of year at all observational stations in the Southern, Eastern and Midlands regions.
Conservation orders covering the North and Western Regions were lifted following heavy rainfall in August.
Excellent conservation efforts made by homes and businesses
Commenting on the lifting of the Water Conservation Orders, Chartered Engineer and water conservation expert, Kate Gannon, said:
“The Water Conservation Orders were vital for reducing significant peaks in demand that Irish Water witnessed in early June 2018. The Orders, combined with the excellent conservation efforts made by homes and businesses across the country, prevented major outages to water supplies in many communities. As rainfall is returning to more average rates, our water sources which were very dry during the summer can recharge more quickly.
In the Greater Dublin Area, where we were very concerned about the levels in the Poulaphuca reservoir, the rate of decline has decreased significantly and the probability of an outage is now very low. Levels at the Inniscarra dam in Cork, Lough Guitane in Kerry and Lough Owel in Mullingar have all stabilised and are recovering.”
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