Minister urges delay to water works in period of ‘extreme heat’
By Press Association Reporters
Minister for Housing James Browne has requested a postponement of “all elective” water works due to concerns about the “extreme heat” across the country.
Thursday is set to be the hottest day of the week in Ireland with temperatures up to 31C in parts.
A status yellow high temperature warning has been in place for every county in Ireland since midday on Tuesday.
Met Éireann said the warning, which is due to expire at 9am on Friday, includes water safety issues due to increased use of lakes and beaches, uncomfortable sleeping conditions, heat stress and possible forest fires.
In correspondence seen by the Press Association, Mr Browne wrote to Niall Gleeson, chief executive of Uisce Éireann, saying he is “seriously concerned about the impact that water outages could have on the public”.
The minister said he was particularly concerned about “the elderly, those with chronic illnesses, and young children, for whom access to water during a heatwave is a matter of health and safety”.
He said he was requesting the water utility “review all elective works currently scheduled and where works are non-urgent that they be postponed until the period of extreme heat has passed.”
He further requested “maximum notice” and “alternative water provision” for residents where works go ahead.
Mark Bowe, a meteorologist at Met Éireann, has projected “very high” temperatures will continue.
He said Wednesday would see highs of around 27-28C and overnight lows above 15C.
Looking later in the week, Mr Bowe said: “Thursday – that’s set to be the hottest day of the week.
“All that warm air will have fully arrived from Europe and temperatures are expected to be widespread over 25C – reaching around 30 or possibly 31C in parts of the Midlands and Connacht.”
Bowe said this also carried the risk of some thunderstorms, with the north west possibly experiencing heavy showers on Friday afternoon.
He said temperatures would take a “bit of a slide” on Friday, with a “few more showers moving in”.
The UK Met Office forecast maximum temperatures of 24C in Northern Ireland on Wednesday, potentially rising to 27C for Thursday.
The outlook into the weekend projected showers or some longer outbreaks of rain on Friday and Saturday, with the rain “perhaps heavy and thundery at times”.
