Water Restrictions Begin Tonight for Parts of Clonakilty as Demand Outstrips Supply
Clonakilty faces overnight water restrictions from tonight as dry conditions strain supply. Conservation efforts urgently needed to maintain daytime pressure.
Residents in three Clonakilty areas will face overnight water restrictions from tonight as Uisce Éireann moves to protect daytime supply amid unusually dry conditions and rising demand.
Customers in Inchinattin, Carrigfadda and Tullig will experience water restrictions from 10pm to 7am each night starting Tuesday, 8 July, as the utility company battles to maintain adequate pressure during peak daytime hours.
The measures come as water levels across the region have dropped significantly below normal for this time of year, following an exceptionally dry autumn, winter and spring. The situation has been compounded by increased summer demand, putting additional strain on the network and Reenascreena Reservoir.
Niall O'Riordan, Uisce Éireann's Water Operations Manager, emphasised the critical need for community cooperation:
"We're committed to ensuring a reliable water supply throughout these summer months, and the support of our customers is an important element to achieve this. In the days and weeks ahead, we would appeal to customers to take the opportunity to really consider their water usage and reflect on the daily and easy actions they can take to play their part."
The utility is encouraging residents to adopt simple conservation measures that can make a substantial difference. Taking shorter showers, placing a basin in the sink whilst washing up, and fixing leaking taps are among the straightforward steps that collectively can help preserve precious water resources.
To help households track their conservation efforts, Uisce Éireann has launched an online calculator at water.ie/calculator that shows exactly how much water different actions can save.
The current dry spell also presents an opportunity for property owners to check for underground leaks, which may be visible as persistent damp patches on lawns or driveways despite the dry weather. Under Uisce Éireann's first fix free scheme, identified leaks on private property can be repaired at no cost to the homeowner.
Key Water-Saving Tips:
Households can achieve significant savings through everyday changes. Turning off the tap whilst brushing teeth saves up to six litres per minute compared to leaving it running. Switching from baths to showers can save over 30 litres per use, whilst reducing shower time by just one minute saves seven litres daily.
Running dishwashers and washing machines only when fully loaded maximises efficiency, as modern appliances use approximately 65 litres and 20 litres per cycle respectively. For toilets, placing a displacement device in larger cisterns can reduce water usage per flush without affecting performance.
Residents experiencing water supply issues or wishing to report leaks on the public network can contact the Uisce Éireann helpdesk on 1800 278 278, available 24 hours a day. Additional conservation tips and information about the free leak repair scheme are available at water.ie.
The restrictions will remain in place until water levels recover sufficiently to meet demand across all hours of the day.
