Updated: 19.08

The Defence Forces have been called in to help with water shortages in the north east.

Following a request, members are being sent to Drogheda in Co Louth.

The Defence Forces are providing two 10,000lt water bowsers and four 1,000lt water bowsers to Irish Water.

Once filled, these will be driven to designated locations in Drogheda.

The Defence Forces are also providing 21 personnel - including five drivers.

The remaining personnel will maintain the water bowsers in cooperation with Irish Water.

There are fears the water crisis could continue on into the weekend.

Irish Water has urged residents in Louth and Meath to check in on elderly neighbours and relatives as 50,000 households wake up without water services for a fifth day.

Water tankers have been deployed to the area to replenish temporary water stations and provide services to priority customers around Drogheda.

#IWMeath: Update - For information on your nearest water tanker location please see our map at https://t.co/AineNVc15l — Irish Water Care (@IWCare) July 25, 2017

A specially engineered section of pipe is being installed in Drogheda on Wednesday - and Irish Water had initially aimed to have services up and running by Thursday.

However a spokesperson for company has said it will be necessary to return the system to full pressure "very gradually" in order to prevent further bursts at other vulnerable points in the network.

This could see many residents not having access to running water until the weekend.

Our Lady of Lourdes hospital in Drogheda is continuing to be prioritised to maintain supply to the hospital.

Supply is also being maintained to the commercial centre in Drogheda town in the Mell area, Donore Road, Marley’s Lane, Cement Road, Ballsgrove, Marian Park, Crosslanes, and some adjoining estates.

Irish Water say tankers will continue to refill stationary water stations until 10.00pm tonight. Water tankers have been secured from Wicklow, Fingal, Dublin City Council, Westmeath, Waterford and Northern Ireland as well as a number of private sources.

There will be a restricted supply in place in the following areas of East Meath: Laytown, Bettystown, Mornington, Donacarney, Julianstown, Clope/Grange Rath and Gormanstwon.

Forty-three road tankers have been deployed to supplement the mains water supply, to replenish temporary water stations and to supply priority customers around impacted communities.

In Louth temporary water stations are located across the network at the following locations:

Stameen on the Dublin Road

Termonabbey

Marleys Lane

Bothar Brugha or Hardmans Gardens

Ballsgrove shops

Shop St North Quay

Clogherhead – outside the amusements on Main Street

Collon side of St Joseph’s Church Lower Mell

Right hand side of entrance to Marley’s Court, Marley’s Lane

Drogheda Retail Park, Donore Road near Costa Coffee

Termonfeckin outside the national school

Manley Construction Site, Avourwen Meadows, Plantin Road

Baltray at the 19th Pub

Gary Kelly CSC,

St Mary’s School Bryanstown,

Wheatan Hall Retail Park,

Shrewsbury Manor,

Newton Meadows,

Boyne Business Park,

Harmony Heights,

College Rise,

Newfield Estate, Forest Park,

Newfield Estate,

Brookville Estate

Yellowbatter Entrance.

A rotation plan is also in place for the Drogheda town water supply.

Details of the temporary station locations are available at water.ie and on Twitter @IWCare.

Additional reporting: Jack Quann