Dublin faces water cuts as reserves fail to meet demand

WATER SUPPLY: ALL PARTS of Dublin city can expect cuts to water supplies over the coming days due to a combination of excessive use by householders and burst or cracked pipes, Dublin City Council has said.

Water reserves have been depleted to the extent that there is now an insufficient supply to meet normal demands.

The council said it has had to reduce water pressure, which will result in disruption to services in all areas, i to replenish its supply.

The reduction in pressure could result in the loss of service altogether in properties on higher ground, but the council could not specify how each area of the capital would be affected.

Chief city engineer Michael Phillips said the council had “no idea” when supplies would return to normal and that it could take up to six months before leaks and bursts were stopped.

“The nature of this extended cold period is that some of the problems will not arise for a period of three to four months . . . It is going to take five to six months before we are back to normal levels of leakage in the system. There will still be ongoing problems.”

Water tankers will be stationed around the city over the coming days. But the council said it will endeavour to supply most homes with some piped water each day by increasing the water pressure between 5pm and 7pm.

This increase in pressure will in most cases be enough to fill a standard 50-litre domestic tank. However, the council urged householders to consider how they use this water.

City manager John Tierney said it was essential that all householders conserved water and did not leave taps running.

“People doing that are creating problems . . . We need the co-operation of the public or we can’t supply everybody in the city with water.”

An FBD Insurance website had advised leaving a kitchen tap trickling in freezing conditions “as moving water will not freeze”. Mr Tierney said such advice was irresponsible. “It is not acceptable to say that; if taps are being left running it will create a shortage.”

Mr Phillips said no one had any right to give such advice. In a statement, FBD said the advice had been given “in good faith”.

Locations of water tankers can be viewed on the council’s website, www.dublincity.ie