Night-time restrictions for customers supplied by Ballymakeegan Reservoir

Uisce Éireann, working in partnership with Longford County Council, wishes to advise customers supplied by Ballymakeegan Reservoir of night time restrictions due to issues at the treatment plant and increased demand, resulting in a drop in water levels. Uisce Éireann, together with Longford County Council, is working hard to maintain supplies and are reconfiguring the network in order to limit the disruption to customers as much as possible.

The night time restrictions are essential to ensure homes and businesses have sufficient supply during the daytime. The restrictions will be in place nightly from 10pm to 8am beginning tonight, Wednesday 21 July, impacting the following areas: Farnagh Hill Area, Ballymakegan Area, Trillick Area, Dublin road in Longford Town towards Freehalm/Clonhard, Ferefad Area, Lissduff Area and surrounding areas. We recommend that customers allow 2-3 hours after the estimated restoration time for full supply to return. Customers registered as vulnerable on this supply are being contacted. 

Uisce Éireann understands the inconvenience when restrictions are imposed and are working closely with our Local Authority partners across Ireland to ensure there is uninterrupted supply during daytime hours.

Uisce Éireann is seeing an increase in domestic and commercial demand for water as temperatures increase and the public are asked to take some simple measures to conserve water in their homes, businesses and on farms.

Small changes can have lasting results. For example:

• Take a shorter shower and save up to 10 litres of water per minute     
• Fix dripping taps or leaking toilets in your home
• When brushing your teeth or shaving, turn off the tap and save up to 6 litres of water per minute
• Save and reuse water collected from baths, showers, and hand basins in the garden
• Avoid using paddling pools
• In the garden use a rose head watering can instead of a hose and aim for the roots
• If you need to wash your car, use a bucket and sponge instead of a hose
• Report any leaks to Uisce Éireann at 1800 278 278.

John Gavin, Uisce Éireann, said: "There are lots of helpful tips for conserving water on water.ie but the key things are to leave the hose and the pressure washer in the shed; don't use paddling pools; reuse household water for the garden; and take shorter showers. Safeguarding the supply of water is essential at this time when handwashing and hygiene is of critical importance. We are calling on everyone to play their part."

Uisce Éireann has been carefully monitoring all of its raw water sources, that is the water from lakes, rivers, springs and ground sources that feed our water treatment plants. Night time restrictions and urgent appeals for conservation have been made in a number of locations across the country to ensure a consistent day time supply for all. While the public are being asked to conserve, there are currently no plans to implement a Water Conservation Order.

John continued: "In Uisce Éireann, we are continually working with our local authority partners to look at what we call the supply/demand balance. This means that we need to ensure that we can supply more treated drinking water than is required for use. We can manage this by conserving water; losing less by repairing leaks; and supplying smarter by ensuring that all of our plants are working optimally.

"We can all work together to protect our supplies and safeguard our water for essential usage."

With the continuation of the COVID-19 pandemic, the public are reminded to adhere to public health and HSE advice, and handwashing and hygiene remain critically important.

Further water conservation information is available on our Conservation section.

Uisce Éireann continues to work at this time with our Local Authority partners, contractors and others to safeguard the health and well-being of staff and the public and to ensure the continuity of drinking water and wastewater services.