Irish Water, working in partnership with Galway County Council, is appealing to households and businesses on the Ballinasloe Regional Water Supply Scheme to conserve water for the foreseeable future, as demand on the scheme has increased by more than 40 per cent in recent days.
The shortage is specifically affecting water supply in the villages of Laurencetown, Eyrecourt, Meelick, Clonfert, Kiltormer, Clontuskert, and surrounding areas,
In an effort to minimise potential interruptions, people are being asked to conserve water by refraining from watering gardens, washing cars, using power hoses, and minimising their use generally.
“Every small effort to save water will contribute to maintaining supplies and benefit your entire community by reducing the likelihood of water restrictions,” Irish Water said in a statement.
Farmers are requested to turn off water supply to fields that are not in use, and to conserve water in general. People are also being asked to report any leaks they see on the public network, and to repair any private side leaks in their homes and businesses to help restore water levels in the network.
Public leaks can be reported online at www.water.ie or by calling the customer care helpline 24/7 on 1850 278 278.
The utility warned that water levels in Sheepwalk and Redmount Hill reservoirs are dropping, and restrictions and shut-offs will be necessary if demand for water does not reduce and continues to outstrip supply.
Irish Water and Galway County Council have thanked those in the affected areas in advance for their co-operation. Updates will be issued on the water storage levels at the reservoirs and consumers will be advised when they can return to normal usage.
Irish Water has also issued a number of tips to help customers conserve water including:
Leak free: Check that your home is leak free. Check for running overflows and fix any dripping taps, cisterns, or pipes.
Don’t let the tap run: Brushing your teeth with the tap running can use up to six litres per minute. Brushing your teeth with the tap off will use a more modest one litre of water.
Shower vs bath: The average bath uses 80 litres of water, compared to an average shower using 49 litres in seven minutes. Switch your bath to a shower for a massive water saving.
Less time: 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 loaded: Always ensure your dishwasher and washing machines are fully loaded. A modern washing machine uses approximately 65 litres of water per cycle, while a dishwasher uses 20 litres. By ensuring they are fully loaded, not only will you conserve water, you will also reduce your energy bills.
Don’t flush it all away: A third of all water used in the home is flushed down the toilet. Some larger cisterns can continue to work effectively with a smaller flush. Place a displacement device into the cistern (out of the way of moving parts ) to save water.
Don’t forget to collect: Rainwater is excellent for use in the garden. Collect it in a water butt from the gutters but always make sure to securely cover the large container for safety.
