Water Conservation Order to be lifted in Westmeath

The Water Conservation Order in Westmeath is to be lifted this week following an improvement in water availability and increased rainfall, Uisce Éireann has confirmed. The order will be lifted at 11.59pm on Wednesday, August 26, bringing an end to restrictions introduced during a prolonged spell of hot and dry weather.

Uisce Éireann said water treatment plant production in Westmeath has fallen by 4.5 per cent from the highest peak demand recorded this summer, with the reduction in water use contributing to improved conditions. The utility has thanked households, businesses and communities across the county for their efforts to conserve water during the challenging period.

Mairead Conlon, Asset Strategy Senior Manager with Uisce Éireann, said the response to the conservation appeal had made a “real difference” in protecting essential water supplies.

“The collective efforts of communities to reduce unnecessary water use have made a real difference in protecting our essential supplies,” she said.

While the lifting of the order is a positive development, Uisce Éireann is urging customers in Westmeath to continue using water responsibly as the country moves towards autumn.

Simple measures such as taking shorter showers, repairing leaking taps and toilets, and only running washing machines and dishwashers when they are full can all help to reduce demand.

Householders are also being encouraged to use a watering can rather than a hose when watering gardens.

The Water Conservation Order was introduced nationwide on July 24 following weeks of hot and dry weather, increased water consumption and mounting pressure on public supplies.

Although the order is being lifted in Westmeath and several other counties, Uisce Éireann said some water sources and public supplies, particularly in parts of the east and south, remain under pressure.

The utility will continue to monitor water sources, demand and the availability of water for distribution.

It is also carrying out measures to protect supplies, including maximising water production, repairing leaks, moving water by tanker where required and managing the network to reduce the risk of outages.

Members of the public can report visible leaks on the public water network to Uisce Éireann on 1800 278 278 or through water.ie. Further conservation advice is also available on the website.