Taps Run Dry In Co Clare

Water has been shut off in Tulla and Broadford in Co Clare today and will stay off until 4pm and again tonight from 8pm to 8am.

Problems in the Shannon area will also mean that water will be turned off there from 12 noon to 5.00pm and again from 8pm to 8am.

Public water supply will also be shut off from 8pm to 8am tonight and each night thereafter until further notice in Westbury, Shannon Banks, Parteen and Clonlara Area, Sixmilebridge; Cappa Rossmanagher Group Water Scheme; Deerpark Group Water Scheme; Ruan and Corofin; Ennistymon, Lahinch, Liscannor, Lisdoonvarna and environs; Scarriff and Tuamgraney; Newmarket on Fergus; Cratloe and Bunratty and in Kilmurry and Kilkishen (which will also affect pressure in parts of Quin).

Water will also be shut off in the Acha Bhile Estate, Lahinch Road between 10pm and 8am.

All other area of Ennis should have their water supply maintained, however some areas of the town may experience low pressure.

There have been ongoing problems going back into December with water supplies in these areas.

Earlier in January, the Minister for the Environment John Gormley said that water demand in the Dublin area too had reached an all-time high.

The minister said if people listen to appeals to conserve supplies, it may rule out the need to take what he called draconian measures as cuts, but so far without success as many local authorities around the country were forced to introduce water restrictions, because of increased demand - especially during the very cold weather in early January.

Taoiseach Brian Cowen has also urged people to conserve water because of the cold spell.

In Co Clare, the council said demand has risen by 20%, with most of the council's water treatment plants at or near production capacity.

(BMcC/GK)