Tipperary residents urged to reduce water use as supply continues to be under pressure
Posted 30 August 2022 – Irish Water is urging the people of Tipperary to continue to do all they can to conserve water as drought conditions are causing severe water shortages.
Areas under high pressure include Carrick on Suir (Crotty’s Lake Supply), Coalbrook, Tullohea, Kilcash, Dualla, Commons, Glengar, Templemore and Templetoughy. We are also experiencing issues on part of the Fethard regional supply network where some customers have reduced pressure and intermittent supply, including Moglass, Arbourhill, Killenaule and Ballinure.
The Tipperary public is invited to:
Avoid pressure washing and keep the garden hose in the shed
Take shorter showers and avoid baths unless absolutely necessary
Check for leaks from outside taps or troughs as these can cause large losses of treated water
Remember paddling pools and swimming pools can use huge volumes of water so please refrain from using for now and if they are already full consider reusing the water for gardening or cleaning. the car.
Report any visible leaks on the public network to Irish Water on water.ie or call 1800 278 278.
When households experience very low flow or pressure, lower than neighboring properties, they may have a service pipe leak. Irish Water’s First-Fix-Free program can help locate and repair external leaks. Details at www.water.ie or call 1800 278 278
Speaking of the urgent need to conserve water, Irish Water’s operations manager, Colin Cunningham, said: “We are calling on residents, businesses and the farming community of Tipperary to reduce their water use as the situation is getting worse. We ask people to be sensible about how they use their water so that we have enough for everyone during the day and businesses in Tipperary can continue to operate as normal.
“Higher than normal water demands can cause network performance issues in localized areas on the networks. High usage can cause reduced pressure and intermittent power. One of these areas is part of Fethard’s regional program; namely Moglass, Arbourhill, Killenaule and Ballinure. Any reductions customers can make in their usage can collectively lead to major improvements for all customers. »
It is important that we all consider our water usage and look at simple yet effective ways to conserve water. It can sometimes be hard to know where to start, but even small changes can make a big difference – and we can all play our part. To help people do this, Irish Water has developed an easy to use conservation calculator so you can work out how much water you are currently saving and how you can conserve even more. The free water conservation calculator is available on the Irish Water website, www.water.ie, where you can also find lots of useful tips for saving water.
“We will continue to work with our colleagues at Tipperary County Council to monitor and manage supplies across the county to ensure people in the area have a safe and reliable water supply,” Colin added.
Irish Water’s helpline is open 24/7 on 1800 278 278 and customers can also contact us on Twitter @IWCare with any questions. For updates, please visit the Supply and Service Updates section of our website.
MORE WATER SAVING TIPS
At home:
Take a shorter shower
Fix dripping faucets or leaky toilets in your home
When you brush your teeth or shave, turn off the tap and save up to 6 liters of water per minute
If you must wash your car, use a bucket and sponge instead of a hose
Report any external leaks to Irish Water on 1800 278 278. No leaks can be repaired and each leak gets progressively worse. Escaping water can weaken the ground or make sidewalks and roads slippery. The water leak reduces the supply pressure for adjacent properties. What looks like a small leak on the surface can use the equivalent of 20-30 homes.
In the garden
Save and reuse water collected in bathtubs, showers and sinks in the garden
Use a rose-headed watering can instead of a hose and aim for the roots
Consider installing a water tank to collect rainwater – this can then be used to water the garden in dry weather
Water in the evening when it does not evaporate
Pots and containers need plenty of water to prevent drying out, so plant directly in the ground as much as possible.
Another great tip is to add a layer of plant material, like bark, to your flower bed to prevent evaporation and reduce the need for watering.
At the farm
Fix water troughs – Beware of overflowing water troughs as they can waste significant amounts of water. Adjust ball valves to lower float or replace failed parts.
Dry cleaning: Save water when cleaning the yard by using dry cleaning techniques. Use scrapers and brushes to remove solid waste from yards and paddocks before watering. You can also use a small amount of water (eg a bucket) to pre-soak the waste before cleaning.
Clean Plate Cooler Water: If you have a dairy farm, you can divert clean water from the plate cooler to a tank and use it for parlor washing.
Consider rainwater harvesting – rain from the roofs of farm buildings can be used for a variety of activities such as washing yards. Consider the level of rainwater quality required for specific on-farm water uses (e.g. nurseries and field irrigation) and surfaces and contamination risks before considering install appropriate systems for the collection, treatment (filtration and UV) and storage of rainwater.
Take steps to protect water sources: Avoid contamination of surface waters by reducing or eliminating livestock access by fencing watercourses. Pollution containing animal feces can affect the aquatic environment, nutrients and soil. Destroyed riparian vegetation can also contribute to flooding.
There are many more water saving tips for farmers on our website at https://www.water.ie/conservation/business/business-conservation-tips/agriculture/.
Irish Water is responsible for the provision of all public water and sewerage services in Ireland. We are committed to continuously improving and expanding critical infrastructure to support needed growth in housing and across our economy, while protecting the environment and preserving water supplies.
