'Every drop counts': Water conservation order extended to Carlow to protect supplies
People are being asked to avoid non-essential water use as hot weather and low rainfall intensify pressure on supplies across the country
A water conservation order has been extended to include Carlow in an effort to protect national supplies.
People are being asked to avoid non-essential water use as hot weather and low rainfall intensify pressure on supplies across the country.
Uisce Éireann has confirmed that the conservation order will be extended to all counties from 00:01 on Friday 24 July until Wednesday 26 August 2026.
An order was already in place in Dublin, South Tipperary and parts of Kildare, Meath, Wexford, and Wicklow.
The nationwide extension is being introduced to help protect public water supplies now and in the months ahead for homes, businesses, farms, hospitals, vulnerable customers and essential services.
The recent hot weather, which is predicted to continue, combined with low rainfall, is driving exceptionally high demand and intensifying pressure on water sources and treated drinking water supplies.
Uisce Éireann says it continues to take all measures to keep water flowing by maximising production, repairing leaks, tankering water, and operating the network to minimise outages and protect supplies.
Night-time restrictions are also currently in place on 53 of 700 water supplies, mainly in areas where local sources are under pressure.
Extending the Water Conservation Order nationwide will support a reduction in non-essential use, ease pressure on water sources and safeguard supplies for essential purposes.
It prohibits the use of a hosepipe or similar apparatus for activities such as watering a garden, cleaning a private motor vehicle, cleaning a private leisure boat, filling or maintaining a domestic swimming or paddling pool, filling or maintaining a domestic pond, excluding fish ponds, and filling or maintaining an ornamental fountain, except where required for commercial purposes.
“Every drop counts. Continued support from the public will help reduce pressure on supplies and keep water available for essential daily needs,” Mairead Conlon, Asset Strategy Senior Manager with Uisce Éireann, said.
Further updates and water conservation advice are available at water.ie/conservation.