Cork and 12 other counties see hosepipe ban extended 

The hosepipe ban will be extended for Cork, Limerick, Waterford and 10 other counties until the end of September, as water supplies “need more time to recover”.

On Monday, Uisce Éireann urged residents in the 13 counties to “continue avoiding non-essential water use”.

The organisation said Kerry, Clare, Cavan, Donegal, Galway, Leitrim, Longford, Louth, Mayo, Monaghan, Roscommon, Sligo and Westmeath will see restrictions lifted from Wednesday onwards.

The conservation order was first introduced in July following a prolonged period of hot and dry weather, high water use and “increasing pressure on public water supplies”.

Ireland faced prolonged drought conditions through much of last month, which was one of the hottest, driest and sunniest Julys on record. Persistent high-pressure conditions resulted in “exceptionally low rainfall”, especially across the south and east of the country.

All rainfall monitoring stations across the country recorded below-average rainfall, with several stations experiencing their driest July on record.

A report by the Environmental Protection Agency found that more than 60% of monthly average river flows across Ireland were below the long-term range last month, with the River Blackwater among the worst affected.

Uisce Éireann said the lifting of the order in some counties reflects “the positive impact of public water conservation efforts and improved conditions in many areas”.

However, in parts of the east and south, “water sources and public water supplies remain under pressure and require continued protection”.

Uisce Éireann has not indicated which date in September the hosepipe ban will be lifted for Carlow, Cork, Dublin, Kildare, Kilkenny, Laois, Limerick, Meath, Offaly, Tipperary, Waterford, Wexford and Wicklow.

It said the extension will help conserve “available water and protect supplies for homes, businesses, farms, hospitals, vulnerable customers and essential services”.

“Uisce Éireann will continue to monitor water sources, demand and the availability of water for distribution,” a spokesperson said.

Those living in areas where the hosepipe ban is being lifted are “still encouraged to use water wisely”.

“Simple steps such as taking shorter showers, fixing leaks and leaking toilets, running washing machines and dishwashers only when full, and using a watering can instead of a hose can help protect supplies,” the spokesperson said.

Uisce Éireann said it is continuing to take operational measures to maintain supplies, including maximising water production, repairing leaks, moving water by tanker where necessary and managing the network to reduce the risk of outages.