Uisce Éireann issues appeal to the public in Mayo to conserve

Ahead of this week’s anticipated warm weather, Uisce Éireann has launched its water conservation campaign.

The campaign asks people in Mayo to conserve and help protect and preserve water supplies by adopting simple water-saving practices at home, in the garden, and at work.

While most reservoirs, rivers, and groundwater sources across the country recovered following a wet winter, warmer weather leads to increased demand for treated water, which can place pressure on water supplies across the country.

Uisce Éireann have listed a number of things users can do to save water.

• Leak-free: Check that your home is leak-free. Check for running overflows and fix any dripping taps, cisterns or pipes.
• Don’t let the tap run: Brushing your teeth with the tap running can use up to a staggering 6 litres per minute. Brushing your teeth with the tap off will use a more modest 1 litre of water.
• Shower vs. Bath: The average bath uses 80 litres of water, while a 7-minute shower uses just 49 litres. Switching to showers can save a significant amount of water.
• Drop the hose: Drop the hose during the summer months. Use a rose-head watering can to water your plants, instead of a hose or sprinkler.
• Install a water butt: Use it to collect rainwater from your gutters for gardening or washing the yard.
• Fully loaded: Always ensure your dishwasher and washing machines are fully loaded. A modern washing machine uses approximately 65 litres of water per cycle, while a dishwasher uses 20 litres. By ensuring they are fully loaded, not only will you conserve water, but you will also reduce your energy bills.
• Don’t flush it all away: A third of all water used in the home is flushed down the toilet. Some larger cisterns can continue to work effectively with a smaller flush. Place a displacement device into the cistern (out of the way of moving parts) to save water.

Uisce Éireann’s Regional Operations Senior Manager for the North-West, Anthony Skeffington, explained that water use typically increases during warm spells due to higher demand for gardening, leisure activities and tourism.

“While reservoirs, rivers and groundwater sources recovered earlier this year, that does not guarantee water security for all areas in the months ahead.

“Our water system continues to face challenges from rising demand and increasingly unpredictable weather patterns. Even where supplies are stable, a period of dry or warm weather can quickly place pressure on some areas.

“That’s why we’re reminding people that every individual water saving action counts and using only what you need really helps to make a positive contribution that can benefit everyone,” said Anthony.

He further stated that a recent survey carried out for Uisce Éireann found that almost a third of people had no interest or awareness in water conservation.

“We’re committed to building greater understanding of, and respect for, our precious water resources, and that’s why we are launching this campaign today.

“To support this, we have developed a suite of easy-to-use online resources, including a free water conservation calculator, which makes it easy for people to track their own and their family’s water use. The calculator, along with lots of simple water saving tips, can be found at water.ie/conservation,” he concluded.