Water crisis looms due to heat wave

July 1989

Sun-soaked Wexford is heading for a water crisis as supplies drop dramatically in the current heatwave. Drought measures have already been implemented by Wexford Corporation, which warns of an emergency if the hot and dry spell continues into the coming weeks.

All garage car washes in Wexford closed down this week on Corporation advice, and other business premises were urged to guard against water wastage or excessive usage.

Water levels in the Coolree reservoir and the Sow River at Edenvale are ‘down dramatically’, and the Corporation is now relying on County Council boreholes to supply households in the south of the town.

‘We’re already in a drought situation and if the weather doesn’t break in the next two weeks, then we’ll be into a real emergency situation,’ said Borough Engineer, Tom Fahey.

A massive 2.2 million gallons is needed every day to supply domestic, commercial and industrial water users in Wexford town and environs. And as the ongoing dry spell takes its toll, supplies at Coolree and Edenvale are already down to levels normally only reached in September, when night-time rationing is usually imposed.

‘We’re hitting that situation six weeks early,’ remarked Mr Fahey, who added that the fallback supply from Council boreholes can be a temporary fix only, and what is really needed is simply lots of rain.

Meanwhile, householders are being asked to use water for essential washing and cooking purposes only. Watering gardens and washing cars is out.

‘It’s in everyone’s interest to abide by this. Everybody will lose out if we have to introduce rations or cuts,’ since Mr Fahey.

It is now almost three weeks since even a single drop of water fell on Wexford town, with daytime temperatures rarely dropping below 20° in that time, and having gone as high as 28°.