WATER RESTRICTIONS are being eased in Dublin city following a better-than-expected recovery rate at the county reservoirs in recent nights.
However, Dublin City Council said today would be the first major test on the system as most people return to work after the holidays.
The council has decided to stagger the 7pm to 7am cuts so that the worst-affected areas are only without water every second night for the rest of this week.
Communications manager Michael Sands said the city’s water engineers should be able to gauge the effect the return to work is having on the system by midday. They would then determine how many of the city’s 19 water systems could be free from cuts tonight.
The council had said the restriction to supply would remain in place until the middle of the month. However, Mr Sands said yesterday that if the recovery at the reservoirs continued apace this week, the council should be able to move to pressure reductions only, rather than cuts, at night, in which case few residents would be aware of any restriction.
“Things are a lot better than they were, so fingers crossed from next week it will be a case of pressure reductions rather than shutdowns.”
The demand at the Dublin reservoirs on Sunday was 507 million litres, 36 million litres fewer than was produced by the city’s water treatment plants. The response to the council’s appeal to businesses to check premises which had been closed over Christmas for leaks, had been particularly successful, Mr Sands said.
“We’ve had fantastic co-operation from the general public and from businesses, but we would appeal to schools to check their buildings this week and not leave it until they open up next week.”
The council has also warned householders to be alert to bogus callers who may use the current water problems to gain access to houses. If asked to check taps, the householder should shut the front door fully and should be aware that council workers always carry identification.
Supply levels have improved across the country but overnight restrictions are continuing this week in the worst-affected areas, including parts of Cork, Limerick, Clare, Sligo and Leitrim.
Supplies in Cork city had substantially recovered yesterday, with the council discontinuing its provision of water at standpipes in the city, although a number of places still have overnight restrictions.
Parts of north Co Cork, however, remained badly affected. Water levels at the reservoir in Mallow remained critical and interruptions were expected to continue over the coming days due to what the council described as excessive demand.
Among the affected areas in Mallow were River Valley, Cairn Woods and Tinley Park, where supply is being switched off overnight to provide a supply to higher adjacent areas such as Spa Glen and Ironmines.
The Killaree reservoir emptied overnight yesterday resulting in interruptions to supply in areas such as Newtownshandrum and townlands such as Ballinakill, Kilmore, Coolasmuttane and Bunmona.
Elsewhere, water levels were still low in reservoirs at Mitchelstown and Fermoy while they were still recovering at reservoirs in Kanturk, Millstreet and Newmarket but there were no significant problems in these areas.
Local authorities which are still implementing cuts will have standpipes or tankers available for residents in the worst-affected areas to collect water. Details of tanker locations are posted on council websites. Residents are reminded to bring their own containers and to boil all water collected before drinking.