No decision made on new hosepipe bans
Uisce Éireann has said no decision has been made on the possibility of introducing new hosepipe bans in counties affected by water supply pressures.
Over 20 supplies across the country are officially in drought status due to the recent spell of warm and dry weather.
The utility said 14 counties are impacted, primarily in the midlands and the northwest of the country.
The head of water operations at Uisce Éireann said there have been some interventions in affected areas, including the tankering of water to treated water storage reservoirs and nighttime restrictions.
Speaking on RTÉ's News at One, Margaret Attridge said it was "a very, very dry winter" and some ground water fed lakes are at "historically low levels".
However, she said no decision has been made on introducing new restrictions such as a hose pipe ban or other water conservation measures in areas not already subject to such orders.
She said Uisce Éireann is "continuing to monitor all our schemes, but it's very much going to be whether dependent".
Ms Attridge said putting in place water conservation orders is "not something that we do lightly".
A water conservation order, commonly referred to as a hosepipe ban, prohibits the use of garden hosepipes and other non-essential uses of water by domestic users and commercial premises for non-commercial activities, for example, watering gardens attached to a business premises.
Uisce Éireann has said using a hosepipe for one hour is the equivalent of the daily water usage of an average family.
In the areas deemed vulnerable, Ms Attridge said people are being asked to "conserve water and do what they can to protect supplies".
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