Hosepipe ban for some areas next week after record-high April temperatures

A hosepipe ban is due to come into effect for areas in Meath, Westmeath and Donegal from next week.

Residents in Kells, Oldcastle, Mullingar and Milford are asked to be mindful of their water use from May 6th onwards.

It follows record-high April temperatures and a “drier than normal” 12 months, with below-average rainfall leading to one water supply reaching a 50-year low.

The ban will prohibit the use of garden hosepipes for non-essential purposes such as watering plants, filling paddling pools or washing cars.

Uisce Éireann said it is the earliest time of the year a water conservation order has been issued with previous bans coming into effect in June 2020, July 2018 and September 2022.

The ban has been issued in an attempt to safeguard supplies for essential purposes and comes as dry conditions led to a “sharp drop” in supply levels, it said.

The utility also noted that Lough Owel, which supplies Mullingar, is at its lowest point in 50 years.

Lough Colmcille and Lough Bane, which supply Milford and Kells-Oldcastle, are also at “historically low levels”.

Uisce Éireann anticipates that a “prolonged period of significant rainfall” is required for the sources to recover.

“We are asking everyone to play their part in conserving water and reporting leaks to help alleviate the pressure on our water supplies,” said head of water operations Margaret Attridge.

It comes as the record temperature for April in Ireland was recorded on Wednesday, reaching 25.9 degrees in Athenry, Co Galway, according to provisional data.

It surpassed the previous April record of 25.8 degrees recorded in Glenties, Co Donegal, in 1984.