Restrictions on the water supply in Dublin will continue tonight and tomorrow as treated water is at an “unsustainably low level” the local authority said.
Dublin City Council said that due to the cooperation of those using the supply, it had managed to save a significant amount of water into storage again last night.
But it would again impose restrictions tonight and tomorrow night, starting at 9pm.
“We will continue to review and monitor the storage levels on an ongoing basis,” the council said on its website, apologising for inconvenience to customers.
The low level of water in storage is as a result of problems at one of the council’s treatment plants.
Algae discovered at the Roundwood treatment plant has reduced the output of treated water from 70 million litres per day to 40 million litres.
There was, however, no problem with storage levels of untreated water and there is no problem with the water quality of treated water.
“In addition water demand is currently running higher than average due to the cold weather which has caused an increase in leakage,” the council said.
Crews are repairing any breaks as they arise and the council asked that people report any location where they see water rising or running.
“In an effort to maintain storage we are asking consumers to assist us in maintaining adequate water supplies by restricting their use of water as much as possible.”
Pressures will also be reduced throughout the system in order to conserve supplies. The council said it would try, as far as possible, to maintain pressures during peak demand periods but pressures would be reduced at other times.
This would result in lower pressures and in some cases possible loss of supply.
Reductions in pressure or loss of supply may be noticed from 9pm to between 7am and 9am throughout the entire city.
The council suggested water-saving tips such as keeping a jug of water in the fridge instead of running the tap, and not delaying in the shower. The council said turning the tap off for two minutes while brushing teeth would save 12 litres of water.