Irish Water issues restrictions for three more counties

On Saturday, Met Éireann issued a warning that Ireland would experience drought or near-drought conditions until Friday July 6.

Irish Water has now followed up that warning by issuing restrictions on water in three different counties: Limerick, Kerry and Louth.

Three separate notices were issued on June 30.

In Limerick, "Irish Water is appealing to customers in Herbertstown, Knocklong, Oola, Hospital, Bruff, Newcastlewest, Loghill, Pallasgreen, Doon and surrounding areas to conserve water as reservoir levels on these schemes are now at a critical stage with demand exceeding production."

Irish Water has specified that Herbertstown, Knocklong, Oola, Hospital and Bruff are the reservoirs causing the most concern.

A similar tack has been taken in Kerry, where worries have arisen over water schemes in Inch, Ballintermon and Ardfert.

Their website currently says, "It is necessary to impose a restriction on these supplies from 10:30pm tonight until 7am tomorrow morning and it is likely that these restriction will continue until levels recover and supply exceeds demand. This will be reviewed tomorrow."

They have also taken matters into their own hands in Louth, reducing access to water at night: "Demand for water right across Louth is increasing and as a result Irish Water, working in partnership with Louth County Council, will be imposing night time restrictions on the Clogherhead and Termonfeckin areas from 11pm to 6am for the foreseeable future."

The body had already issued a ban on hosepipes in Dublin until the end of July. Anyone who flouts the new rule will face a €125 fine.

Updates from Irish Water can be found here.