‘Every drop saved will help’ - Hosepipe ban extended in Laois for another month

The hosepipe ban in place in Laois since last month has been extended as pressure remains on water supplies.

In July, Uisce Éireann issued a nationwide water conservation order following a prolonged period of hot and dry weather, high water use and increased pressure on public water supplies. This order was originally due to end on Wednesday, August 26.

They have now confirmed that the hosepipe ban will be lifted for 13 counties on Wednesday, while 13 more counties will continue to be under the order.

The order has been extended until the end of September for Laois as well as Carlow, Cork, Dublin, Kildare, Kilkenny, Limerick, Meath, Offaly, Tipperary, Waterford, Wexford and Wicklow.

Despite the decision to lift the ban for some counties, Uisce Éireann warned that water sources and supplies remain under pressure in many parts of the east and south of the country.

The extension of the order for Laois and twelve other counties is to help conserve available water and protect supplies for homes, businesses, farms, hospitals, vulnerable customers and essential services.

Uisce Éireann said they will continue to monitor water sources, demand and the availability of water for distribution.

Commenting on the decision, Margaret Attridge, Head of Water Operations with Uisce Éireann, said: “We have received great support from the public for our water conservation appeal, which has helped reduce demand significantly in many areas. The collective efforts of communities to reduce unnecessary water use have made a real difference in protecting our essential supplies.

“The improvement in conditions means we can now lift the order across many counties. That is a positive outcome and reflects the real difference people and businesses have made by reducing unnecessary water use.”

However, she added: “At the same time, supplies in parts of the east and south remain under pressure, and water sources in these areas will need more time to recover. For that reason, the order will remain in place in 13 counties.

“We are asking customers in these areas to continue using only the water they need and to avoid non-essential use. We recognise the effort that people have already made, and we appreciate their continued support. Every drop saved will help us protect local supplies and keep water available for essential daily needs.”

Even customers in counties where the ban is being lifted are being encouraged to use water wisely and take simple steps to reduce their usage such as with shorter showers and fixing leaks.

Uisce Éireann said they are continuing to take operational measures to maintain supplies, including maximising water production, repairing leaks, moving water by tanker where necessary and managing the network to reduce the risk of outages.