Uisce Éireann issues appeal to Kildare customers to conserve water

Uisce Éireann (UE) has issued an appeal calling on County Kildare customers to conserve water.

As the country is set to enjoy a long spell of warm weather, UE today (July 9) announced an appeal to help protect the country’s water supplies by "adopting simple water-saving practices at home, in the garden, and at work".

In addition, as part of the appeal, UE has announced that it has teamed up with broadcaster Kathryn Thomas to help raise awareness of the importance of water conservation.

UE said in its statement: "Already the water network is experiencing increased pressure on supplies across several regions, including counties Dublin, Limerick, Tipperary, Waterford, Cork, Galway, Donegal, Meath, Westmeath, Clare, and Wexford. 

"The aim of the appeal is to remind the public that saving water doesn’t have to be difficult. By making small adjustments, we can all contribute to managing water more efficiently."

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UE also outlined some water-saving tips: 

• Leave the hose in the shed: "Drop the hose during the summer months. Use a rose head watering can to water your plants instead of a hose or sprinkler. Running a hose for just one hour uses as much water as a family would typically need in an entire day."
• Bucket and sponge for your car: "Using a bucket and sponge to wash your car can save hundreds of litres of water compared to using a hose or power washer."
• "Turn off the tap: "Brushing your teeth with the tap running wastes up to six litres of water per minute. Turning it off while brushing can reduce that to just one litre."
• Switch to a shower: Showers use about half the amount of water as baths. Invest in water saving appliances such as water efficient taps and shower heads."
• Shorter showers: "With the average shower using seven litres of water per minute by turning your five-minute shower into four minutes, you could save up to seven litres of water per day!"
• Fully load your appliances: "Always ensure your dishwasher and washing machine are fully loaded before use. A typical washing machine uses approximately 65 litres of water, and a dishwasher uses around 20 litres per cycle. By ensuring they are fully loaded, not only will you conserve water, but you will also reduce your energy bills."

Eoghan Forristal, UE's water operations lead for Kildare, asserted that the organisation is "committed to ensuring a reliable water supply throughout the summer months, and the support of our customers is an important element to achieve this".

He further said: "In the days and weeks ahead, we would appeal to customers to take the opportunity to really consider their water usage and reflect on the daily and easy actions they can take to play their part in ensuring our water resources are used wisely and in a way which benefits, not only your own household but also the wider community,”

"While the warmer weather is certainly a welcome change, it does place additional demands on our water supplies; that is why we are asking people to join us in making small changes in their own daily routine to help conserve water."

Mr Fooristal concluded: ""Simple steps can have a big impact in helping to maintain water reserves... Whether it is using a watering can in the garden, or turning off the tap while brushing your teeth, every individual action counts, and all adds up to making a positive contribution to benefit everyone."

Broadcaster Kathryn Thomas. Photograph supplied by Uisce Éireann

Kathryn Thomas also had this to say: "It is important that we all consider our water usage habits, not just during the summer months, but all year round."

She added: "Simple changes can have a real impact and collectively we can all help maintain our water resources."

For those looking to track their progress and learn more about water conservation, UE has developed an easy-to-use conservation calculator, which allows people to track their personal water usage.

To access the water conservation calculator or find out more about water conservation tips, you can  visit www.water.ie/conservation.