Galway City Council intends to introduce conservation measures as part of its response to the current drinking water crisis.
Water pressure will be reduced in certain areas over the coming weeks, but most of this will occur at night, the local authority said yesterday.
In a related development, An Taisce's Galway branch has called for a complete cessation of large housing developments within the city until a "badly need reorganisation" of planning takes place.
Water rationing is not being considered, according to Galway City Council, but measures will include leak eradication and consultation with businesses on management of the water supply.
The local authority said it is continuing to monitor supplies for the cryptosporidium parasite, which has caused over 200 laboratory-confirmed cases of the gastro-intestinal illness, cryptosporidiosis, since January - and multiples of that figure among people who have not sought medical help.
It says that the monitoring is "encouraging", with "negligible results", and the number of new cases fell to four last week - with only one of these four being within the "boil water" notice area. However, the HSE has stressed that the number of new cases must fall to "normal background levels" before it will lift the boil water alert, which affects some 90,000 people in the city and county from Tuam in the north to Athenry and Moycullen.
The local authority says it is on schedule to provide its short-term engineering solutions, including provision of an alternative supply from the Luimnagh (Tuam) system which will reach 17,000 cubic metres by June 15th. This will allow it to begin decommissioning the old city waterworks at Terryland.
It says that Ryan Hanley consulting engineers have also been appointed to expedite "medium-term solutions", including sourcing and installing a package of treatment plant, ultraviolet disinfection and turbidity meters. The consultants are also considering an upgrade of the "new" water treatment works at Terryland.
