Water supply restrictions eased in aftermath of Storm Emma

LESS than 3,000 homes remain without water in the aftermath of Storm Emma and overnight restrictions of supplies will continue in parts of Dublin.

Electricity was restored to storm-hit areas early last week although ESB Network crews were busy in north Dublin yesterday morning to restore supply to 7,000 customers hit by a new power outage.

Irish Water confirmed yesterday that the water restriction programmes between 8pm and 6am were being eased.

Normal supplies were being maintained for customers across Co Dublin, Wicklow, Meath, Kildare and the bulk of Dublin city centre over the weekend. A spokeswoman said the national situation has improved significantly with only a few small pockets with no water supply.

Some 2,450 customers remain without a water supply, 30,216 customers have a restricted supply and no customers on boil water notices relating to Storm Emma.

But 12,000 in the Fethard area of Co Tipperary will have to endure a ‘do not drink’ notice until Monday, March 19, when a problem at a water production plant is scheduled to be finally resolved.

Irish Water and the Greater Dublin Region Local Authorities continue to make good progress on finding and fixing leaks. The shortfall of 60 million litres of water between production at plants and consumption by customers last Monday was reversed with the restrictions in supply.

While some restrictions may still be experienced in a number of areas, there are no longer any planned restrictions in Fingal, Kildare, Westmeath, Wicklow, Meath and Leitrim.

The company was working with local councils in the greater Dublin area and making progress in finding and fixing leaks on the public network and also on private side leaks in homes and businesses.

The demand for water in homes and businesses has stabilised in the last number of days.

Underground leaks on the public water network, made up of old and fragile pipes which are on average 80 years old, were likely to be the main source of Storm Emma water losses, said a spokeswoman.

“Our strategy to maintain our efforts to reduce leakage will continue and we will continue to maximise production for as long as can be sustained and to retain appropriate levels of conservation through leakage reduction restrictions,” she said.

Irish Water is continuing to appeal to homeowners and businesses alike to conserve water. Any visible leaks should be reported to Irish Water on 1850 278 278.