Water Ration Imposed By Councils

Many of Ireland's local authorities, including Dublin, have issued public ration's on the use of public water supplies due to burst pipes and a rise in demand.

According to many council's this morning, supply has been interrupted due to low pressure across the network.

In a statement released this morning, Dublin City Council said it was calling on the public, businesses, schools and everybody in the community to conserve water as levels are at a "critically low level" and demand is at an "all-time high".

A spokesman for Dublin council said: "The prolonged freeze over Christmas and the early days of January caused a dramatic increase in broken water mains. The ground will move as the thaw sets in during the week beginning 11th January and this will cause further damage and breakages to the water mains, resulting in increased loss of water."

The statement went on to ask the public not to leave taps running, to report any location where water is running or rising to the Water Services Division and to only use water when necessary and in the quantities necessary.

The Council also said it would be reducing pressures throughout the system in order to conserve supplies.

"We will try to maintain pressures during peak demand periods but will reduce pressures at other times. Localised temporary disruptions to supply may be experienced by consumers in all areas. While every effort will be made to maintain supplies at periods of peak demand this will not always be possible."

Cork City Council is also requesting that people do not hoard water. It has also asked the public not to leave taps running as a means of preventing pipes freezing.

The demands on the system have compromised supply to a number of vulnerable facilities, including Mercy University Hospital.

Dublin City Council Water Services Division can be contacted at 01-2220600

(DW/GK)