Irish Water asks people in Mountmellick to conserve water due to unseasonably dry weather conditions
19 January 2017 – Irish Water is asking people living in Mountmellick in County Laois to conserve water usage for the foreseeable future due to the unseasonably dry weather conditions over recent weeks.
The dry weather conditions have resulted in lower than normal water levels in the Straboe well which is the source of drinking water for the Mountmellick Public Supply. Irish Water is asking people to conserve water as much as possible and to report any leaks they see on the public network by calling our customer care helpline which is open 24/7 on 1850 278 278.
Irish Water and Laois County Council are carrying out leak repair works on the Mountmellick and Portlaoise public water network to reduce leakage. We are asking the public for their assistance by reporting all leaks to help conserve water and reduce loss of water in the network due to leakage.
Irish Water would like to apologise for any inconvenience caused and would like to thank the public in advance for their co-operation. We will continue to provide updates on the water storage levels at the reservoir and advise customers when they can return to normal usage.
Irish Water’s Top Tips for Conserving 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 compared to an average shower using 49 litres in seven minutes. Switch your bath to a shower for a massive water saving
• Less time: With the average shower using 7 litres of water per minute by turning your five minute shower into four minutes, you could save up to 7 litres of water per day!
• 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
• Don’t forget to collect: Rainwater is excellent for your garden. Collect it in a water butt from your gutters but always make sure to securely cover the large container for safety