Irish Water to review hosepipe ban order

FOLLOWING recent heavy rainfall and improving river and ground water conditions Irish Water is reviewing the need for the Water Conservation Order, more commonly known as the hosepipe ban.

The National Water Conservation Order was put in place on 9 June and was expected to remain in place until 21 July. It was issued in a bid to safeguard water supplies for essential purposes, in particular water needed for sanitation purposes during the COVID-19 crisis.

Met Eireann confirmed that May 2020 was the driest since 1850 and continued dry weather was forecast. When the Water Conservation Order was issued, 27 of Irish Waters 900 drinking water schemes were in drought, with another 50 at risk of going into drought. Thereafter the situation deteriorated rapidly with the number of schemes in drought or at risk of drought peaking at 98.

In County Sligo two water schemes were affected when the Water Conservation Order was first put in place. This number has now dropped to one. Kilsellagh is still classified as being at risk of going into drought, as the Impoundment Dam has not returned to normal levels.

Irish Water is continuing to monitor these water sources as their recovery is fragile and subject to change. Early next week Irish Water will again meet with Met Eireann, the OPW, the EPA and other key stakeholders to discuss the impact of the recent rainfall with consideration to lifting or partially lifting the Water Conservation Order.

Irish Water Lead for County Sligo Georgina O’Reilly said: “It is still essential that members of the public in Co Sligo continue to conserve water and form good household habits at this time. Any non-essential use of water should be discouraged, whether we are in a drought or not.”