Irish Water has warned that an increase in demand for water over the coming weeks could put pressure on water supplies in some areas.

They have issued an appeal to the public to be mindful of their water usage over the coming weeks in order to avoid water restrictions later in the summer.

Ireland’s water supply is expected to be affected by both summer holidaymakers and the incoming heatwave as they country is set to be hit with ‘exceptionally warm’ conditions’ with temperatures of up to 32C over the coming days.

While there are no plans to introduce any water restrictions at this time, Irish Water said they will monitor water levels at all our supplies over the coming weeks and months and take any actions that may be necessary.

READ MORE: How much water you should be drinking during heatwave in Ireland?

The majority of water supplies are operating normally but the locations most likely to come under pressure are rural areas, particularly in the South and Midlands, and popular holiday resorts that are experiencing a higher than average demand for water at this time of year.

Irish Water said they are already taking actions to manage and protect supplies at present in parts of Co Cork and Tipperary, Carron in Co Clare and Inis Oirr in Galway.

Irish Water advised the public to follow these steps to reduce their water usage during the hot weather:

• Avoid power washing and keep the garden hose in the shed
• Check for leaks on outdoor taps or troughs as these can lead to large losses of treated water
• Minimise the amount of water used in paddling pools and swimming pools and consider reusing the water for the garden or cleaning the car
• Report any visible leaks on the public network by contacting Irish Water 24/7 at 1800 278 278 or on water.ie

Tom Cuddy, Irish Water’s Head of Asset Operations, said. “We are all looking forward to a spell of hot, dry weather over the coming weeks. And while we enjoy the sunshine it is important that we all consider our water usage and look at simple yet impactful ways to conserve water.

“It can sometimes be difficult to know where to start, but even small changes can make a significant difference – and we can all play our part. By reducing the water used in paddling pools, turning off the hose and avoiding power washing we can all help ensure there is enough water to for everyone as we go through the summer.

“To help people learn more about saving water we have developed an easy-to-use conservation calculator so they can work out how much water they are currently saving and how they can conserve even more. The free calculator is available on the Irish Water www.water.ie/calculator where you can also fine lots of useful water saving tips.

“We will continue to monitor the levels at all our supplies over the coming weeks and months and take any actions that may be necessary to maintain supplies, including communicating about localised issues as they arise.”

READ NEXT:

Get breaking news to your inbox by signing up to our newsletter

Read the full article here.