Irish Water is asking people living in Westmeath to continue conserve water usage for the foreseeable future due to the unseasonably dry weather conditions during recent weeks.
To date this year, 91 leaks have been repaired on the water distribution network in the areas supplied with drinking water from Lough Owel. These savings will help to conserve water following a period of unseasonably dry weather conditions which have resulted in historically low water levels in Lough Owel for this time of year.
Irish Water has a number of tips to help customers conserve water:
Leak free: Check that your home is leak free. Check for running overflows and fix any dripping taps, cisterns, or pipes
Do not 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.
Shower versus bath: The average bath uses 80 litres of water compared to an average shower using 49 litres in seven minutes.
Less time: With the average shower using seven litres of water per minute, turning your five-minute shower into four minutes could save up to seven litres of water per day.
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 you will conserve water and reduce your energy bills.
Do not 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.
Do not forget to collect: Rainwater is excellent for your garden. Collect it in a water butt from your gutters but always make sure to cover the large container securely for safety.
