Nighttime restrictions in Cavan Town lifted as reservoir levels recover

Uisce Éireann is advising customers in Cavan Town that nighttime water restrictions remain in place, and is urging customers to play their part in the conservation effort by reducing non-essential water use wherever possible.

Nighttime restrictions were introduced on the Cavan Town Public Water Supply last week to help treated water reservoir recovery and safeguard daytime supply for homes and businesses.

The ongoing high temperatures have seen an increase in demand for treated water, and this has placed significant pressure on supply.

Restrictions will remain in place from 11pm until 7am until further notice in order to protect daytime supplies of treated water. Uisce Éireann will continue to monitor supplies closely over the coming days.

Peter Gallagher of Uisce Éireann explained that the nighttime restrictions are necessary to cater for high daytime demand, and urged customers in Cavan Town to be mindful of their water usage while the fine weather persists.

“We have seen a sustained high level of demand due to the warm weather in recent days. We expect this level of demand to remain high over the coming week, and these nighttime restrictions on supply are necessary to ensure a continuous daytime supply for homes, businesses and essential services in the town," said Peter.

“We are encouraging customers in Cavan Town to take some simple steps which can significantly reduce usage and help to protect supply for the community.”

Customers are encouraged to be alert to signs of leaks on their property, such as persistent damp patches on lawns or driveways. Uisce Éireann’s First Fix Free scheme provides a free repair for qualifying underground leaks on private property once identified. To report leaks on the public water network, customers can contact Uisce Éireann’s 24/7 helpdesk at 1800 278 278 or visit our Report a Leak page.

Below are some simple water-saving tips everyone can follow, to help protect supplies:  

• Leak free: Check that your home is leak free. Check for running overflows and fix any dripping taps, cisterns or pipes.
• Don’t let the tap run: Brushing your teeth with the tap running can use up to a staggering 6 litres per minute. Brushing your teeth with the tap off will use a more modest 1 litre of water.
• Shower vs. Bath: The average bath uses 80 litres of water, while a 7-minute shower uses just 49 litres. Switching to showers can save a significant amount of water.
• Drop the hose: Drop the hose during the summer months. Use a rose head watering can to water your plants, instead of a hose or sprinkler.
• Install a water butt: Use it to collect rainwater from your gutters for gardening or washing the yard.
• Drinking troughs: On the farm, watch out for overflowing drinking troughs as they can waste significant amounts of water. Adjust the ball valves to lower the float or replace faulty parts.
• Fully loaded: Always ensure your dishwasher and washing machines are fully loaded. A modern washing machine uses approximately 65 litres of water per cycle while a dishwasher uses 20 litres. By ensuring they are fully loaded, not only will you conserve water, but you will also reduce your energy bills.
• Don’t flush it all away: A third of all water used in the home is flushed down the toilet. Some larger cisterns can continue to work effectively with a smaller flush. Place a displacement device into the cistern (out of the way of moving parts) to save water.

To access the water conservation calculator or find out more about water conservation tips, visit the Conservation section of our website.

Uisce Éireann is advising customers in Cavan Town that essential overnight restrictions, introduced last night to protect supplies of treated water, will remain in place over the coming nights.

Restrictions on nighttime water usage were introduced on Wednesday evening to support treated water reservoir recovery and help safeguard daytime supply for homes and businesses.

Restrictions will remain in place tonight (Thursday) and tomorrow night (Friday) from 11pm until 7am in order to protect daytime supplies of treated water. Restrictions are likely to remain in place over the weekend as the warm weather continues. Uisce Éireann will continue to monitor supplies closely over the coming days.

Customers in Cavan Town and surrounding areas may experience low pressure or a disruption to their nighttime supply as a result of these restrictions.

Peter Gallagher of Uisce Éireann explained that the nighttime restrictions are necessary to cater for high daytime demand, and urged customers in Cavan Town to be mindful of their water usage in the coming days.

“We have seen a sustained high level of demand due to the warm weather in recent days. We expect this level of demand to remain high as we head into the weekend, and these nighttime restrictions on supply are necessary to ensure a continuous daytime supply for homes, businesses and essential services in the town," said Peter.

“We are encouraging customers in Cavan Town to be conscious of their water use in the coming days, and to take some simple steps which can significantly reduce usage and help to protect supply for the community.”

Customers are encouraged to be alert to signs of leaks on their property, such as persistent damp patches on lawns or driveways. Uisce Éireann’s First Fix Free scheme provides a free repair for qualifying underground leaks on private property once identified. To report leaks on the public water network, customers can contact Uisce Éireann’s 24/7 helpdesk at 1800 278 278 or visit the Report a Leak section of our website.

Below are some simple water-saving tips everyone can follow, to help protect supplies:  

• Leak free: Check that your home is leak free. Check for running overflows and fix any dripping taps, cisterns or pipes.
• Don’t let the tap run: Brushing your teeth with the tap running can use up to a staggering 6 litres per minute. Brushing your teeth with the tap off will use a more modest 1 litre of water.
• Shower vs. Bath: The average bath uses 80 litres of water, while a 7-minute shower uses just 49 litres. Switching to showers can save a significant amount of water.
• Drop the hose: Drop the hose during the summer months. Use a rose head watering can to water your plants, instead of a hose or sprinkler.
• Install a water butt: Use it to collect rainwater from your gutters for gardening or washing the yard.
• Drinking troughs: On the farm, watch out for overflowing drinking troughs as they can waste significant amounts of water. Adjust the ball valves to lower the float or replace faulty parts.
• Fully loaded: Always ensure your dishwasher and washing machines are fully loaded. A modern washing machine uses approximately 65 litres of water per cycle while a dishwasher uses 20 litres. By ensuring they are fully loaded, not only will you conserve water, but you will also reduce your energy bills.
• Don’t flush it all away: A third of all water used in the home is flushed down the toilet. Some larger cisterns can continue to work effectively with a smaller flush. Place a displacement device into the cistern (out of the way of moving parts) to save water.

To access the water conservation calculator or find out more about water conservation tips, visit the Conservation section of our website.

Night-time restrictions will be introduced in Cavan town this evening to support treated water reservoir recovery and help safeguard daytime supply for homes and businesses.

Customers in Cavan town and surrounding areas may experience low pressure or a disruption to their water supply between 11pm tonight and 7am tomorrow morning. Low treated water reservoir levels and sustained high demand in the area have necessitated the introduction of overnight restrictions. This means treated water is being used more quickly than it can be produced and stored in local reservoirs. Customers are being encouraged to reduce usage where possible to help maintain supply and support reservoir recovery.

Uisce Éireann’s Peter Gallagher said “The overnight restrictions are being introduced to support treated water reservoir recovery and help maintain daytime supply for homes, businesses and essential services. Conserving water will help protect our water sources and maintain supply for all. We thank customers for their cooperation and understanding while these measures are in place."

Simple steps taken at home, in the garden and at work can make a real difference in protecting supply during this time.

More information on water conservation can be found on our Water Conservation page.

Tips to Conserve Water

• Drop the hose: Use a rose-head watering can over a hose or sprinkler. Aim for the roots. Water plants early or late in the day to limit evaporation.
• Take short showers instead of a bath: Reducing your shower time can save up to 10 litres of water per minute. A typical bath uses 80 litres.
• Turn off the tap: Not running water while brushing your teeth or shaving can save up to 6 litres a minute. Keep a jug of water in the fridge for drinks.
• Fill up your appliances: Only run your washing machine and dishwasher when they have a full load.
• Fix dripping taps: A single dripping tap can waste between 5,000 and 10,000 litres of water a year.
• Use a basin in the sink: Use a basin when rinsing vegetables or washing dishes and reuse that water for your plants.
• Clean the car with a sponge: When washing your car, avoid the hose and use a bucket and sponge instead.
• Install a water butt: Use it to collect rainwater from your gutters for gardening or washing the yard.
• Pick plants wisely: Opt for low-water plants like lavender or olive trees. Established plants and lawns often don't need watering unless there's a drought.
• Lock in moisture: Add bark or plant material to flower beds to prevent evaporation or use gel beads in pots to keep roots hydrated.

Members of the public can report any leaks in the public water network by contacting Uisce Éireann at 1800 278 278 or online at Report a Leak.

Uisce Éireann's customer care team is available 24/7 on 1800 278 278 and customers can also contact us on X @IWCare with any queries.

Uisce Éireann has a free text service, providing real-time updates for local issues. Customers can sign up with their Eircode and mobile number via the panel below.