HOSEPIPE BAN NOW LIFTED

THE heatwave may seem like a distant memory at this stage, but the impact of the summer drought saw a hosepipe ban only being lifted in Louth last week.

The Water Conservation Orders, better known as the Hosepipe ban, was put in place during July, after a lengthy dry spell.

Despite a chance in weather as the summer progressed, the ban remained in place to protect vital water sources..

In a statement issues last week, Irish Water confirmed: ‘ The Irish Water Board met and reviewed the data regarding the Water Conservation Order.

The data shows a reduction in demand, the availability of water resources and the prevailing weather conditions which means that the conservation order can now be lifted.

In August, heavy rainfall ocurred in the North and Western Regions, refilling water sources in those areas to a level where specific usage bans were lifted. Supplies in the Southern, Eastern and Midlands regions, however, had not recovered and a new Water Conservation Order to cover the public water supplies in counties Kerry, Limerick, Tipperary, Cork, Waterford, Wexford, Kilkenny, Carlow, Laois, Offaly, Wicklow, Meath, Westmeath, Louth and Dublin was issued.

‘ This order took effect on 1 September 2018 and was due to conclude at midnight on 30 of September 2018. However, increased rainfall has meant that the Water Conservation Orders can now be lifted.’

Rainfall rates have returned or are returning to average rates for this time of year at all observational stations in the Southern, Eastern and Midlands regions.

The removal of the ban will enable householders to resume use of hosepipes.