Irish Water has announced that a garden hose ban will come into force in West Cork at midnight on Monday August 29 for four weeks.
The ban will be lifted at midnight on Monday, September 26.
As many as 38,000 people in the region will be affected by the Water Conservation Ordinance, which effectively prohibits the use of garden hoses to water the garden; clean boats and leisure equipment; or fill swimming pools, paddling pools and/or fountains.
One hour of using a hose in a garden uses up to 1,000 liters of water, which is equivalent to using a family of four for a day.
Irish Water confirmed the order was issued to ensure the supply of water for essential purposes.
Areas affected are: Adrigole, Allihies, Bantry, Bayview, Caheragh, Cahermore, Cape Clear, Castletownbere, Clonakilty, Cluain Court Allihies, Coppeen Crookhaven, Crosterra, Drinagh, Dromore Bantry, Dunmanyway, Durrus, Dursey Island, Glengarriff, Goleen, Johnstown , Kealkill, Kilcrohane, Lyre Clonakilty, Reenmeen West, Skibbereen, Tarelton, Toormore and Whiddy Island.
Irish Water revealed that there was just 6.3mm of rain at Roches Point weather station between August 14 and 23, compared to 18.4mm at Mullingar and 32mm at Markee Castle in Sligo between the same dates.
The utility added that since November 2021 rainfall in West Cork has been below average for every month except June. They said water supplies need time to replenish, which is expected to take between six and eight weeks.
Irish Water’s Margaret Attridge said: “Irish Water’s top priority is to protect our water supply for use in homes, businesses and essential services.
“As demand continues to outstrip supply in West Cork and dry weather is still forecast, we have taken a further step by implementing a Water Conservation Order to protect the water supply. local water.”
Attridge added that they are “currently monitoring the situation” for expansion across the country, but that is not currently planned.
As supplies are already under severe strain, another spell of fine weather over the next two weeks is expected to further aggravate the situation.
