Water conservation and water shortages

Water conservation means using water efficiently to reduce unnecessary use.

Water covers 71% of the Earth’s surface, but only 1% of that can be used as drinking water. Population growth means there is a growing demand on this limited supply. So, it is important that we manage and conserve our drinking water to avoid shortages.

Uisce Eireann has a National Water Resource Plan to help manage water supply in a reliable and sustainable way for the future.

We can also each take steps to reduce the amount of water we waste to help the environment.

We can all do our bit to conserve water. You can make small changes to your everyday life to save water, such as:

• Take a shower instead of a bath. Keep your showers short to save more water.
• Turn off the tap when you brush your teeth.
• Wash your vegetables in a basin of water, instead of in the sink. When when you are finished, you can use this water to water your plants.
• Fill up a jug with cold water and leave it in the fridge. This means you have a supply of cold drinking water without having to run the tap.
• Only fill up your kettle with as much water as you need.
• Wait until you have a full load before you put on your dishwasher or washing machine.
• Use a bucket and sponge to wash your car instead of a hose.
• Use a watering can when you water plants in your garden instead of a hose or sprinklers. Remember not to over-water your plants.
• Collect rainwater by using a water butt to catch run-off from your roof and gutters. You can use this to water your plants.

You could also install some water saving devices to help you save more water at home. For example, you could add an aerator shower head, which reduces the amount of water you use in the shower.

Uisce Éireann has a water conservation calculator that shows you how much water you use and how you can save more. They also have business conservation tips that can help business owners reduce the amount of water they use.

Almost 38% of Ireland's drinking water is lost before it reaches our taps because of leaks in the system. These leaks can happen in the public water pipes or in your home or business.

You will usually notice a big leak in your home, like a burst pipe. But other leaks might not be as obvious. You can see if there are smaller leaks or plumbing issues by doing these things:

• Make sure your indoor and outdoor taps are not constantly dripping. Dripping taps can usually be repaired easily by replacing a washer in the tap.
• Check if your appliances that use water have any plumbing issues like dripping joints or leaking supply hoses. For example, does your washing machine or dishwasher leak when it’s being used?
• Listen to your water storage tank. If it sounds like it is refilling, when you are not using appliances that use water, you may have an issue. Check your overflow pipes to see if water is coming out of them. You can usually find these pipes outside on the side of your home.
• Listen for the sound of constant running water from your toilet cisterns. If there is a stream of water running inside the toilet, this could be a sign that you have a leak.

If you have any of these issues or you are worried about a leak in your home, you should contact a plumber. You may also qualify for a free leak investigation from Uisce Eireann.

If your water meter shows that there might be a leak on your external supply pipe, Uisce Éireann will contact you as part of their First Fix Free Scheme.

Uisce Éireann offers free leak investigations and repairs, if you have a constant flow of water on your external water supply pipe and you qualify for the scheme. To register fill out the application form. You can read more about the scheme in Uisce Eireann’s First Fix Scheme: Customer Guide.

Water shortages happen when the demand for water exceeds the amount of water that is available. Water shortages happen in Ireland when there is not enough consistent rainfall over the year to build up our water supplies. Short spells of dry weather do not cause water shortages.

There are several reasons why water shortages happen, including:

• Climate change is causing more frequent and intense weather events, like flooding and dry spells. This means less predictable rainfall.
• There is an increasing demand for water, due to our growing population. In some areas of Ireland, water supplies are nearly at their maximum capacity.
• Leaking pipes in the water system mean 38% of our drinking water is lost before it is used.
• The industrial and agricultural sectors in Ireland have a very high demand for water, especially in the summertime.

During water shortages, Uisce Éireann can issue a water conservation order to get people to reduce the amount of water they use.

When there are water shortages, for example, in the summertime, Uisce Éireann can make a water conservation order to restrict the use of water supplies. They can prohibit or restrict us from using a hosepipe to:

• Water gardens
• Water recreational parks or sports grounds
• Wash cars and trailers Irrigate or spray crops

Uisce Éireann can also restrict and prohibit the use of water for:

• Commercial car wash facilities
• Filling and topping up pools, ponds and lakes

These restrictions are known as a water conservation order or a hosepipe ban. They mean that water is kept for essential reasons, when supplies are low. These restrictions are publicised in the media (newspapers, radio and television). They can apply for specific times of the day and to specific areas or nationwide. It is an offence if you do not comply with a water conservation order.

During a water shortage, Uisce Éireann can also try to preserve water by:

• Changing how they pump water around the network
• Changing how much water flows through pipes
• Bringing treated water to areas in need
• Increasing the number of teams working to fix leaks in the system

Uisce Eireann has 5 different levels of water restrictions:

If you need water for medical reasons, you should add your name to Uisce Eireann’s Priority Services Register. This means they can contact you in advance about water disruptions, including up to 2 days in advance of any planned water conservation periods. You can register for the Priority Services Register:

• Online with Uisce Éireann
• By emailing: vulnerablecustomer@water.ie
• By calling: 1800 278 278 or +353 1 707 2828