Uisce Éireann calls on people to drop the hose as water use in the Greater Dublin Area reaches record high

Information below is relevant until further updates are provided here or on our Supply and Service Updates section

Uisce Éireann is urgently calling on the public to drop the hose this weekend and for as long as the hot, dry weather continues and as treated drinking water use remains exceptionally high during the current heatwave. It is appealing to everyone in the Greater Dublin Area to adopt water-saving habits where possible. This will help safeguard a reliable water supply for all and avoid more restrictive measures having to be taken.

The urgent appeal comes on foot of a new record for daily water use in the GDA where 693 million litres was used in one day. This is eight million litres more than the last reported record in May and 50 million litres above the year-to-date average.

This level of use places significant pressure on the water network. The increase in water usage is being driven by a combination of garden watering, power hosing and other outdoor domestic use during this prolonged hot and dry weather. While the Greater Dublin Area, which includes counties Dublin, Kildare, Meath and Wicklow, has recorded the highest water use, supplies are also under pressure in parts of Wexford and South Tipperary.  In Wexford, the Wexford Town, Fardystown, Taylorstown and Gorey water treatment plants are producing 4 million litres more water each day than the average daily demand recorded in 2025. In South Tipperary, water treatment plants are producing 1 million litres more water each day than the 2025 average.

Night-time restrictions in the Greater Dublin Area are under active consideration if water use is not reduced. While Uisce Éireann is working to avoid restrictions where possible, this pattern of continued high use is increasing risk to supplies. Reservoir levels are dropping by up to 30 million litres on peak usage days, underlining the need for urgent conservation now by everyone.

Margaret Attridge, Head of Water Operations with Uisce Éireann, said:

“Simple changes can make a big difference. By reducing non-essential water use now, we can help protect supplies for homes, hospitals, farms, businesses and essential services, ensuring there is enough water for everyone.

We know people want to enjoy their gardens and outdoor spaces during the good weather, but treated drinking water is a precious resource and demand is currently at record levels. We are asking customers to drop the hose and avoid using sprinklers, particularly for watering lawns. While grass may turn yellow during dry spells, it typically recovers quickly when rain returns.”

A second way customers can help is by checking for leaks. Customers are encouraged to check homes, farms and businesses for leaks, dripping taps and leaky loos. Eligible domestic customers may also be able to avail of Uisce Éireann’s First Fix Free scheme, which provides a free investigation and repair of certain external leaks on private property. More information is available on the First Fix section of our website.

Uisce Éireann teams continue to monitor supplies, manage the network, repair leaks and take targeted action where needed to protect water services for customers. While the vast majority of customers across the country are not seeing any impact to their supply, night-time restrictions are now in place on 25 water supplies, out of more than 700 nationwide, as a precaution. These are mainly affecting parts of Kilkenny, Tipperary, Donegal, Cork, Kerry, Limerick and Meath.

Customers can also play their part by making small changes to reduce everyday water use. To access the water conservation calculator and find more water-saving advice, visit the Conservation section of our website.

The latest updates are available on the Uisce Éireann website and social media channels. Customers can also contact the customer care team, which is available 24/7, or sign up for free text alerts using their Eircode and mobile number.