Water tankering in Limerick village as Uisce Éireann issues conservation appeal

UISCE ÉIREANN, have announced a national appeal encouraging the public to help protect the country’s water supplies by adopting simple water-saving practices at home, in the garden, and at work.

In Limerick, tankering is currently taking place in Oola, while further areas across east Limerick are being closely monitored, such as Pallasgreen, Herbestown, and Bruff. 

There are currently no restrictions in place, and should restrictions be required the local community will be updated. 

The aim of the appeal is to remind the public that saving water doesn’t have to be difficult and by making small adjustments, we can all contribute to managing water more efficiently.   

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Already the water network is experiencing increased pressure on supplies across several regions, including counties Limerick, Dublin, Tipperary, Waterford, Cork, Galway, Donegal, Meath, Westmeath, Clare, and Wexford.  

Uisce Éireann are monitoring all supplies closely and taking measures to maintain normal supplies through interventions such as tankering to reservoirs, nighttime restrictions and pressure management, where needed.

Eoin O’Connell, Uisce Éireann’s Operations Manager has said, “We’re committed to ensuring a reliable water supply throughout the summer months, and the support of our customers is an important element to achieve this. In the days and weeks ahead, we would appeal to customers to take the opportunity to really consider their water usage and reflect on the daily and easy actions they can take to play their part in ensuring our water resources are used wisely and in a way which benefits, not only your own household but also the wider community,” 

“While the warmer weather is certainly a welcome change, it does place additional demands on our water supplies. That is why we are asking people to join us in making small changes in their own daily routine to help conserve water. Simple steps can have a big impact in helping to maintain water reserves. Whether it is using a watering can in the garden, or turning off the tap while brushing your teeth, every individual action counts, and all adds up to making a positive contribution to benefit everyone,” concluded Eoin. 

As part of the appeal Uisce Éireann has teamed up with broadcaster Kathryn Thomas to help raise awareness of the importance of water conservation.  

Commenting further, Kathryn Thomas said, “It is important that we all consider our water usage habits not just during the summer months but all year round. Simple changes can have a real impact and collectively we can all help maintain our water resources.” 

Uisce Éireann have shared a number of water saving tips with the public for water conservation during the warm weather:

Leave the hose in the shed: Drop the hose during the summer months. Use a rose head watering can to water your plants instead of a hose or sprinkler. Running a hose for just one hour uses as much water as a family would typically need in an entire day. 

Bucket and sponge for your car: Using a bucket and sponge to wash your car can save hundreds of litres of water compared to using a hose or power washer. 

Turn off the tap: Brushing your teeth with the tap running wastes up to six litres of water per minute. Turning it off while brushing can reduce that to just one litre.  

Switch to a shower: Showers use about half the amount of water as baths. Invest in water saving appliances such as water efficient taps and shower heads. 

Shorter showers: With the average shower using seven litres of water per minute by turning your five-minute shower into four minutes, you could save up to seven litres of water per day! 

Fully load your appliances: Always ensure your dishwasher and washing machine are fully loaded before use. A typical washing machine uses approximately 65 litres of water, and a dishwasher uses around 20 litres per cycle. By ensuring they are fully loaded, not only will you conserve water, but you will also reduce your energy bills.