Appeal to curtail water usage regardless of the weather
• Uisce Éireann reminds public to conserve water throughout the year
• Over half of people in ireland still admit to wasting water
• Demand grows as country enjoys spell of warm weather
Uisce Éireann have today renewed their appeal to the public to ‘Think Water Conservation’ as warm weather returns and demand increases.
This comes as more than half of Irish households (54%)* still admit to wasting water.
Water use in the Greater Dublin Area can rise by up to 20 million litres per day during warm weather.
As part of their annual campaign, Uisce Éireann are calling on households across the country to assess water usage habits and take practical steps to save water daily.
With warm, dry weather experienced by much of the country this week and with many people now back in school and work after the holidays, Uisce Éireann have seen an increase in demand for water.
They say today, however, that there are no plans to introduce general water restrictions or hosepipe bans.
The public are asked to help play their part in protecting essential water supplies for their communities, and to conserve water where possible.
Water saving tips include:
• Checking your water consuming appliances such as washing machines and dishwashers for dripping joints or leaking supply hoses#
• Keep a jug of water in the fridge rather than letting the tap run cold, and save six litres a day
• Making sure the tap is off while brushing teeth can save 84 litres of water a week
• Reducing shower time by 60 seconds can save up to 120 litres of water a week
• 250 litres of water a week can be saved by fixing any leaking or dripping taps in the garden
Margaret Attridge, Uisce Éireann head of Water Operations, said: “We are experiencing a warm, dry, spell of weather, and, while it is great to see after a particularly wet summer, this brings its own set of challenges.
“Many of us will be enjoying these warm evenings in our gardens, however, it is important to remain conscious of our water usage habits throughout the year, regardless of the weather.
“Some urban areas tend to see increases in demand around this time of year as schools return and people come back to work after holidays. Also, as we come into autumn and winter, storms and other extreme weather can affect the capacity to treat and produce clean drinking water, and for that reason, water conservation is something we should think about year-round, not just during the summer.
“By working together to use only what we need in our homes, gardens, and businesses, we can all contribute to ensuring a sustainable water supply for everyone. We are encouraging communities all over Ireland to play their part and think about water conservation throughout the year.
“Don’t forget to also check the ground above your pipes for signs of leaks. At Uisce Éireann we are also continuing our First Fix Free programme to help households that may be using higher levels of water than average, which could signal a potential leakage problem.
"Our team will investigate the cause of the leak and fix the issue to curtail any further potential leaks. This is in line with the Uisce Éireann collaborative approach to water conservation.”
Attridge also reminded the public that once again the Uisce Éireann Conservation Calculator is on hand to help households examine how much water they are currently using and identify changes they could make to reduce their use.
“The average water use of one person is 133 litres per day. The Conservation Calculator provides helpful advice for those wanting to ensure they use water responsibly to improve their score rating and is free for all households to use on our website. It offers practical advice on conserving water, to ensure we have a sustainable water supply for everyone in years to come.
“We are encouraging everyone to play their part with us and think about water conservation.”
*Research was conducted by Behaviour and Attitudes on February 17-28, 2023. Sample size was 1,000 participants.