Hosepipe ban for whole of Ireland
»»Cattle cool down as temperatures hit 28C during heatwave »»gardeners in tap blow with no rainfall forecast for 10 days
A NATIONWIDE hosepipe ban was ordered last night as water supplies hit critical levels with no rain expected for at least 10 days.
The bar, already in place in Dublin since Monday, has been extended to all areas from tomorrow until the end of the month as the hot weather and drought continue to bite.
Sunlovers yesterday saw blistering temperatures with parts reaching 28C – making it hotter than Morocco.
Even cows were forced to cool down at the beach and some enjoyed a dip in a paddling pool.
At the weekend the mercury is due to touch a scorching 30C and a Met Eireann status yellow warning for extremely dry conditions is in place until midnight tomorrow.
An Irish Water spokesman said: “The order has been issued due to the continued drought conditions and to help protect water supplies now and over the coming months.
“Met Eireann has advised there has been little or no rain over the past 30 days and predictions show no significant rainfall is likely for at least a further week, meaning deepening drought conditions.
“High levels of sunlight means significant evaporation levels on water sources. The average soil moisture deficit is 60mm nationally which means even if it did rain, no water would reach our water sources as it would be absorbed by the ground.
“The continuation of these drought conditions nationally is putting pressure on water sources as rivers, lakes and groundwater levels drop.”
The utility company said demand across all water resources nationally has increased by 15%.
A high temperature weather warning for 14 counties expired last night but Ireland’s heatwave is due to last “well into next week”.
Night-time water restrictions are in place across more than 40 water supply schemes, with over 100 more
under threat. The National Emergency Coordination Group met at the Department of Agriculture yesterday.
It included Met Eireann, the Department of Housing, which is responsible for the water network, Department of Defence, the HSE, Garda and Irish Water.
Today’s forecast is for cloudier conditions, with a few light showers possible, and highs of 20C to 26C.
Tomorrow will see the mercury in the mid-20s, with the warmest weather in the Midlands.
Met Eireann said Saturday will be warm and mostly sunny with maximum temperatures in the mid to high 20s. A weather front is due from the northwest coast on Sunday, giving cloudier intervals and some patchy rain or drizzle for a time in northwestern areas.
But elsewhere across the country the warm, fine and sunny conditions continue.
Meanwhile, the DSPCA has said it received calls to around 30 separate locations in Dublin last Friday where horses were tied up in sweltering heat.
A spokesman said the reports mostly involved animals tied up in housing estates with no access to shade or water. The charity has also received four reports of dogs in hot cars in the past few days, two of which were serious incidents.
One involved a pooch in a vehicle where an inspector and gardai were about to break into the motor just before the owner returned. Semi-state body Teagasc has set up a helpline for farmers on 087 797 1377. This gives advice on feeding stock due to the continuing decline in grass growth.