Tipp People Urged To Conserve Water Amid Drought Conditions

481

uRIrish Water reports an urgent need for people in Tipperary to conserve water as drought conditions are causing a severe depletion of water supplies. Areas under severe pressure include Carrick on Suir (Crotty’s Lake Supply), Coalbrook, Tullohea, Kilcash, Dualla, Commons, Glengar, Templemore and Templetouhy. Irish Water says the shortages are also being felt  on part of the Fethard Regional Supply network where some customers have reduced pressure and intermittent supply including Moylass, Arbourhill, Killenaule and Ballinure. 

 The public  across Tipperary is being asked to:

·         Avoid power washing and keep the garden hose in the shed

·         Take shorter showers and refrain from baths unless absolutely necessary

·         Check for leaks on outdoor taps or troughs as these can lead to large losses of treated water

·       Refrain from using  paddling pools and swimming pools,  if already filled consider reusing the water for the garden or cleaning the car

·         Customers are also asked to report leaks on the public water network to  Irish Water at water.ie or call 1800 278 278. 

The appeal to conserve water is being made to all sectors – residents and businesses including farmers. Irish Water says the situation continues to worsen and it asks people to be sensible about how they use their water so that there will be enough for everyone during the daytime and that the businesses of Tipperary can continue to operate as normal.

MORE WATER SAVING TIPS

At home:

·         Take a shorter shower

·         Fix dripping taps or leaking toilets in your home

·         When brushing your teeth or shaving, turn off the tap and save up to 6 litres of water per minute 

·         If you need to wash your car, use a bucket and sponge instead of a hose

·         Report any external leaks to Irish Water at 1800 278 278. No leak fixes itself and every leak gets progressively worse. The escaping water can weaken the ground or cause slippery footpaths and roads. The leaking water reduces the supply pressure for adjacent properties. What looks like a small leak at the surface can be using the equivalent to 20-30 households.

In the garden

·         Save and reuse water collected from baths, showers, and hand basins in the garden

·         Use a rose head watering can instead of a hose and aim for the roots

·         Consider installing a water butt to collect rainwater – this can then be used for watering the garden during dry weather

·         Water in the evening when it won’t evaporate

·         Pots and containers need lots of water to prevent drying out so plant directly into the ground as much as possible

·         Another good tip is to add a layer of plant material, like bark, to your flower bed to prevent evaporation and reduce the need for watering 

On the Farm

·         Fix troughs – Watch out for overflowing drinking troughs as they can waste significant amounts of water. Adjust the ball valves to lower the float or replace faulty parts. 

·         Dry cleaning: Save water when cleaning the yard by using dry-cleaning techniques. Use scrapers and brushes to remove solid waste from yards and pens before hosing. You can also use a small amount of water (e.g. one bucket) to pre-soak waste before cleaning. 

·         Clean plate cooler water: If you own a dairy farm, you can divert clean plate cooler water to a tank and use it for parlour washing 

·         Consider Rainwater Harvesting – rain from the roofs of farm buildings can be used for a variety of activities such as washing down yards. Consider the level of rainwater quality required for specific water uses on the farm (e.g. plant nurseries and field irrigation) and the surfaces and contamination risks before you consider installing appropriate rain water harvesting, treatment (filtration and UV) and storage systems. 

·         Take action to protect water sources: Avoid contamination of surface waters by reducing or eliminating access to livestock by fencing off watercourses. Pollution containing animal faeces can affect the water environment, nutrients and soil. Destroyed bankside vegetation can also contribute to flooding. There are lots more water saving tips for farmers on our website at https://www.water.ie/conservation/business/business-conservation-tips/agriculture/.