Irish Water and Donegal County Council are asking customers to conserve water as reservoirs struggle to keep up with the demand.
They will be assessing the water supply schemes across the county today to monitor usage levels which will inform decisions about which supplies need to be restricted overnight.
By restricting schemes where demand is outstripping supply, reservoirs have the opportunity to replenish over night and therefore ensuring customers receive a water supply during the day.
The schemes most likely to face restrictions tonight are Creesloug Dunfanaghy WSS, Gortahork/Falcarragh, Lough Mourne, Rosses RWSS and Lettermacaward.
Usage levels will be monitored throughout the day and a final decision taken this evening.
High demand is also being registered in the follow water supply schemes: Letterkenny, Milford, Fanad East, Fanad West, Pollan Dam, Inishowen West Meendoran, East Inishowen, Buncrana, Frosses Inver, Donegal Eske, and Owenteskina, due to, more than likely, taps being left running in peoples’ properties and on farms.
Customers are being asked to conserve water by turning off taps, both inside and outside, limiting usage of washing machines and dishwashers where possible and taking showers instead of baths, to avoid reservoirs emptying and water pressure to homes and businesses being affected.
A spokesperson for Irish Water says: “Across Donegal there are issues with high demand.
“Irish Water is appealing to customers to turn off taps and check for leaks on their own properties and in holiday homes and unoccupied premises and to report them to Irish Water’s customer care helpline on 1850 278 278.
“Irish Water is appealing to any customers with external taps to ensure that these are securely turned off as we try to protect the levels of our reservoirs and secure drinking water for local communities.
“A continuous flow from an external tap over a 24 hour period could use the equivalent of the daily water usage of 40 households.”
“Irish Water and Donegal County Council would like to thank customers in advance for their co-operation in conserving water at this critical time. Irish Water would also like to thank the local authority staff for their efforts in keeping water supplies running in very difficult conditions.”
Information on dealing with frozen pipes is available on www.water.ie and water supply updates are available at www.water.ie/water-supply/supply-and-service-update/
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