Latest news with #WaterConservationOrder
Scoop
28-05-2025
- General
- Scoop
Land And Freshwater Plan Change Refocused
Press Release – Tasman District Council A separate plan change PC87 will address priority issues for land activities in Tasman, targeting recontouring and contaminated soil management. Ongoing delays and uncertainty with national freshwater regulation have been challenging for the Council and a decision was made on 9 May to pause the Land and Freshwater Plan Change (PC84) until clear Government direction and new legislation is received. However, Council has obligations under the Water Conservation Order (WCO) for Te Waikoropupū Springs and aquifer, as well as other priority issues to address that cannot wait. As a result, PC84 will be refocused on freshwater protections to support the WCO. This change will put in place policy and rules to manage water and land use activities, and their associated discharges, in the recharge area for the Wharepapa Arthur Marble Aquifer to help protect the flows and water quality at the Springs. It will also create a nutrient management framework for farming and forestry in the recharge area to help achieve nitrate reduction at the Springs. A separate plan change PC87 will address priority issues for land activities in Tasman, targeting recontouring and contaminated soil management. We are working to get both plan changes notified this year before the Local Government elections to avoid further delay. Once the plan changes are notified, community members will have the chance to share their views and participate in the process by making formal submissions. Further information on the WCO and workstreams to support protection of the Springs is available on Council's website, as well as further information on the PC84 and PC87 processes.
Scoop
28-05-2025
- Politics
- Scoop
Land And Freshwater Plan Change Refocused
Ongoing delays and uncertainty with national freshwater regulation have been challenging for the Council and a decision was made on 9 May to pause the Land and Freshwater Plan Change (PC84) until clear Government direction and new legislation is received. However, Council has obligations under the Water Conservation Order (WCO) for Te Waikoropupū Springs and aquifer, as well as other priority issues to address that cannot wait. As a result, PC84 will be refocused on freshwater protections to support the WCO. This change will put in place policy and rules to manage water and land use activities, and their associated discharges, in the recharge area for the Wharepapa Arthur Marble Aquifer to help protect the flows and water quality at the Springs. It will also create a nutrient management framework for farming and forestry in the recharge area to help achieve nitrate reduction at the Springs. A separate plan change PC87 will address priority issues for land activities in Tasman, targeting recontouring and contaminated soil management. We are working to get both plan changes notified this year before the Local Government elections to avoid further delay. Once the plan changes are notified, community members will have the chance to share their views and participate in the process by making formal submissions. Further information on the WCO and workstreams to support protection of the Springs is available on Council's website, as well as further information on the PC84 and PC87 processes.
Irish Daily Mirror
14-05-2025
- Climate
- Irish Daily Mirror
Uisce Éireann urging communities to conserve water and reduce usage
Uisce Éireann is urging communities across County Donegal to make every effort to conserve water and reduce usage. The appeal comes as the current prolonged spell of dry weather, coupled with increased demand, is putting significant pressure on water supplies in the county. A Water Conservation Order, commonly referred to as a hosepipe ban, remains in place for Milford Regional Public Water Supply. While this order only applies to customers supplied by the public water supply in Milford, Kerrykeel, Ramelton and not the rest of the county, supplies in other areas of Donegal are now under pressure. These include Letterkenny, Buncrana, Ballybofey, Stranorlar, Carrigart, Downings and surrounding areas. Speaking about the urgent need to conserve water, Uisce Éireann's Damien O'Sullivan said: "We are appealing to residents, businesses and the farming community in Donegal to reduce their water usage as this period of dry and warm weather continues. 'We are asking people to be sensible about how they use their water so that we have enough for everyone and that the businesses of Donegal can continue to operate as normal. Uisce Éireann's top priority is to protect our water supply for use in homes, businesses and essential services. 'Since September 2024, rainfall in Donegal has been below average when compared to historical rainfall records. 'There was only 67 per cent (487mm) of rain at the weather station in Malin Head, Donegal between September 2024 and March 2025 compared to historical records for Malin Head (724mm). 'Met Éireann is forecasting a further spell of dry, warm weather. As a result, we are heading into the summer months with lower-than-average water levels. 'In response, we have increased our efforts in leakage detection, pipe repair and overall network management. 'We have also deployed extra resources to finding and fixing critical leaks in the water network across County Donegal. 'However, we are appealing to customers in Letterkenny, Buncrana, Ballybofey, Stranorlar, Carrigart, Downings and surrounding areas to think about their water usage and make efforts to conserve water. As temperatures rise, so too does our water consumption. To protect supply, we are asking everyone to be mindful of their water use.' The public is being asked to: Where householders experience very low flow or pressure, lower than neighbouring properties, they may have a service pipe leak. Uisce Éireann's First-Fix-Free Scheme can help with the location and repair of external leaks. Details at or call 1800 278 278.
RTÉ News
06-05-2025
- Climate
- RTÉ News
Six-week hosepipe ban in effect in three areas
A hosepipe ban is in effect for three areas for the next six weeks due to historically low water levels. The areas are Mullingar in Co Westmeath, Milford in Co Donegal, and Kells-Oldcastle in Co Meath. The Water Conservation Order is to safeguard water supplies for essential purposes due to a sharp drop in water levels in the local lakes supplying these areas. This follows significantly below average rainfall over the last seven months. Met Éireann figures show cumulative rainfall since the start of October last year, in all three regions, is running 28% below normal. This is equivalent to only five months of normal rainfall during a seven-month period and is the main reason water supplies are so low. Uisce Éireann says Lough Owel, which supplies the Mullingar Public Water Supply, is currently at its lowest level in 50 years. Similarly Lough Colmcille, which supplies Milford in Donegal, and Lough Bane, which supplies Kells-Oldcastle in Co Meath, are also at historically low levels. The hosepipe ban will be in place until 11.59pm on Monday 16 June. The Water Conservation Order for the three areas prohibits the use of garden hosepipes and other non-essential uses of water by domestic users and commercial premises for non-commercial activities. This includes watering gardens attached to a business premises. The prohibited water uses during the hosepipe ban include the use of water drawn through a hosepipe or similar apparatus for the purpose of: Watering a garden cleaning a private motor-vehicle using a domestic hosepipe cleaning a private leisure boat filling or maintaining a domestic swimming or paddling pool (except when using hand-held containers filled directly from a tap) filling or maintaining a domestic pond (excluding fish ponds) filling or maintaining an ornamental fountain (with the exception of such use for commercial purposes) filling or replenishing an artificial pond, lake or similar application.
The Irish Sun
02-05-2025
- Climate
- The Irish Sun
Urgent hosepipe ban for 3 areas after record-breaking 25.9C temps & ‘no rain forecast' fears – six ways to save water
IRELAND is set to continue baking in the sun as high temperatures stick around for the next two weeks. The country has been enjoying glorious weather over the past week with temperatures reaching record- breaking highs. Advertisement 2 Uisce Eireann's Margaret Attridge Credit: HANDOUT PR IMAGE 2 Irish water chiefs have asked people to be mindful of their water use Credit: Getty Images - Getty The hottest April day ever in Ireland was recorded on Wednesday with a temperature of 25.9C in Athenry, Co Galway. This smashed the previous record of 25.8C in Glenties, Co Donegal, in April 1984. Alan O'Reilly of Carlow Weather has explained that Ireland is set to be Telling how, at present, there is " Advertisement READ MORE ON IRISH NEWS "There will be some showers but if you look here at the total rainfall forecast for the whole of Europe for the next two weeks and even a little bit beyond very little rainfall expected for Ireland. "Obviously beyond seven days that can change, so there is a possibility that we could see rain in ten days time, those things can change. "But at the moment if you look, Ireland looks to be one of the driest spots in Europe for the next two weeks." So as we come into summer, Uisce Eireann is pleading with households and businesses to be mindful of their use of water with supplies facing major pressure. Advertisement Most read in Irish News Homeowners in three rural towns will be hit with a hosepipe ban for six weeks from Tuesday due to falling reservoir levels. Uisce Eireann confirmed that a Water Conservation Order will be in place for Mullingar, Co Officials said the ban was due to a sharp drop in water levels at the sources supplying these areas, loughs Owel, Colmcille and Bane, following a drier-than-average autumn, winter and spring. Here Margaret Attridge, head of water operations with Uisce Éireann, warns that the country is not flush with water – and urges for the nation to conserve supply. Advertisement URGENT WATER APPEAL UISCE Éireann is appealing to all customers to be mindful of their use of water as we enter the summer months. The Water Conservation Order 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. This Order has been issued in a bid to safeguard these water supplies for essential purposes. This is necessary due to a sharp drop in water levels at the sources supplying these areas following a dryer-than-average autumn, winter and spring. Lough Owel which supplies the Mullingar Public Water Supply is currently at its lowest level in 50 years. Advertisement Similarly, Lough Colmcille which supplies Milford in Donegal, and Lough Bane which supplies Kells-Oldcastle in Co Meath are also at historically low levels. In recent weeks, Uisce Éireann has been putting in place a number of measures to maintain and protect these supplies, including enhanced leakage repair works, pressure management and public water conservation campaigns in an effort to reduce demand to sustainable levels. DRIER THAN NORMAL Uisce Éireann's top priority is to protect our water supply for use in homes, businesses and essential services. The past 12 months have been drier than normal when compared to the long-term average. Advertisement This means that some water sources which traditionally would have replenished over the winter period have not seen the same levels of recovery and, as a result, we are starting to experience issues with water availability at these sources. While the Water Conservation Order only applies to these three schemes, we are reminding all customers to be mindful of their use of water so supplies can be protected, especially in areas where water resources are under pressure. As we enter the summer months, warmer weather creates a surge in demand for water, for gardening, leisure and other purposes. But using a hosepipe for one hour is the equivalent of the daily water usage of an average family and this is generally a non-essential use of water. We are asking everyone to play their part in conserving water and reporting leaks to help alleviate the pressure on our water supplies. Advertisement There are tips for conserving water on but the key messages are to leave the hose and the pressure washer in the shed, reuse household water for the garden; and take shorter showers. We are calling on every- one to play a part so we can maintain supplies into the summer. Simple actions, such as taking a shorter shower, placing a basin in the sink and fixing leaking taps can all make a significant impact. Uisce Éireann has developed an easy-to-use conservation calculator to help people find out how much water they are saving and what they can do to save even more. See TOP TIPS TO CONSERVE WATER Leak free: Check 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. 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 around 65 litres of water a cycle while a dishwasher uses 20 litres. You will also reduce your energy bills Don't flush it all away: A third of all water 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).
