Wexford public urged to reduce water usage

Uisce Éireann is appealing to the public in Wexford to be mindful of their water usage in the coming weeks as the increased domestic and commercial demand during the busy summer period is being exacerbated by warm weather and the widespread emergence of drought conditions. 

Since March, Uisce Éireann has been carefully monitoring all raw water sources in county Wexford, that is the water from lakes, rivers, springs and ground sources that feed our water treatment plants.

Speaking about the developing situation, Uisce Éireann's Regional Operations Manager Jim Fitzgerald said,

"We are appealing to the public in Wexford to be mindful of how they use their water at home, as we have had a very dry period recently. As the busy summer holiday period kicks in, many people will be outdoors a lot more, watering the garden or washing cars. We are just asking people to be sensible about how they use their water so that we have enough for everyone to use during the daytime and that the businesses of Wexford can function to their optimal.

"The prolonged dry weather has exacerbated the demand on water. Our main areas of concern at the moment would be the Wexford Town and Enniscorthy areas as they have on-going supply issues, but we also have challenges elsewhere in the county such as Bunclody. Water is such a precious natural resource, and we are working hard along with our colleagues in Wexford County Council to ensure the people in Wexford have a safe and reliable water supply."

There are lots of helpful tips for conserving water on water.ie however, the most effective tips would be 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 currently when hand washing and hygiene is of critical importance. We are calling on everyone to play their part."

Future Plans

Uisce Éireann has plans to upgrade the Vinegar Hill Water Treatment plant to bring a safer and more reliable supply to homes and businesses in Enniscorthy. Similarly, an upgrade is planned for the Newtown Water Treatment Plant in Wexford town. This will bring a more robust and safer supply to 20,000 people around the town.

The Uisce Éireann customer care helpline is open 24/7 on 1800 278 278 and customers can also contact us on Twitter @IWCare with any queries. For updates, please visit the Supply and Service Updates section of our website. Uisce Éireann and Louth County Council regret any inconvenience caused.

Uisce Éireann is responsible for the delivery of all public water and wastewater services in Ireland. We are committed to continuously upgrading and developing critical infrastructure to support the growth needed in housing and across our economy, while protecting the environment and safeguarding water supplies.

Conservation Calculator

Last month, Uisce Éireann launched the online Conservation Calculator. Research commissioned by Uisce Éireann showed that over half of Irish households (53%) admitted to wasting water, even though some eight in ten (78%) know it is important to take steps to conserve it. The Conservation Calculator, which will assist households across the country to assess their water usage habits and find out how much water they are saving on a daily basis. It also offers useful and practical tips on how to reduce water usage and track their progress.  The free tool was developed in response to research which shows consumers want additional tools to assist them conserve water and is available at www.water.ie/calculator.