Water is precious: Uisce Éireann issues nationwide appeal to conserve

Uisce Éireann has launched its water conservation campaign asking the public to conserve and help protect and preserve water supplies by adopting simple water saving practices at home, in the garden and at work. The appeal comes as almost a third of Irish people admit to being completely disengaged with any form of water conservation*.

While most reservoirs, rivers and ground water sources across the country recovered following a wet winter, warmer weather leads to increased demand for treated water which can place pressure on water supplies across the country. During last month’s hot spell water use in the Greater Dublin Area reached a record 685 million litres in a single day – 43 million litres, or 6.7%, above the year-to-date average of 642 million litres. This shows how quickly demand can rise as temperatures increase and why water is precious and should be conserved all year round.

Below are some simple water-saving tips everyone can do, 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.
• 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.
• 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.
• 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.

Uisce Éireann’s Head of Water Operations, Margaret Attridge, explained that water use typically increases during warm spells due to higher demand for gardening, leisure activities and tourism.

“While reservoirs, rivers and ground water sources recovered earlier this year, that does not guarantee water security for all areas in the months ahead. Our water system continues to face challenges from rising demand, and increasingly unpredictable weather patterns. Even where supplies are stable, a period of dry or warm weather can quickly place pressure on some areas. That’s why we’re reminding people that every individual water saving action counts and using only what you need really helps to make a positive contribution that can benefit everyone.

“A recent survey carried out for Uisce Éireann found that almost a third of people had no interest or awareness in water conservation. We’re committed to building greater understanding of, and respect for, our precious water resources and that’s why we are launching this campaign today. To support this, we have developed a suite of easy to use online resources including a free water conservation calculator which makes it easy for people to track their own and their family’s water use. The calculator, along with lots of simple water saving tips, can be found at water.ie/conservation.”  

Uisce Éireann is continuing to monitor supplies across the country and is already taking proactive measures in a small number of areas to limit interruptions to water supply to those customers. Progress to reduce leakage, repair pipes and manage the water network more efficiently also continues alongside record investment in water infrastructure to increase resilience and capacity. While significant progress has been made, challenges remain in parts of the country due to the age and condition of some infrastructure especially during peak demand periods.

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 here.

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