Essential overnight restrictions to protect water supplies in Stranorlar, Ballybofey and surrounds

Information below is relevant until further updates are provided here or on our Supply and Service Updates section

Essential overnight restrictions will be in place for Uisce Éireann customers on the Lough Mourne Public Water Supply Scheme due to low treated water reservoir levels. The restrictions are necessary to allow the treated water reservoirs to recover so Uisce Éireann can protect and maintain daytime supplies.

Customers supplied by the Main Reservoir in Lough Mourne and Corradooey Reservoir in the Twin Towns, Crossroads, Convoy, Lifford, Raphoe, Rossgier areas may experience low pressure or supply disruptions between 11pm and 8am from tonight. These restrictions will remain in place until reservoir levels replenish.

Increased demand due to the current spell of warm weather has resulted in treated water reservoir levels depleting. Across County Donegal, Uisce Éireann operations teams have been monitoring water supplies. Our teams have been taking measures to maintain normal supplies through proactive measures such as more focused leakage detection and pressure management.

While crews work to ensure supply for customers during the daytime, customers are being urged to conserve water where possible and to report any leaks.

Uisce Éireann’s Damien O’Sullivan explained: “We regret any inconvenience as a result of these overnight restrictions. We are appealing to all customers in the impacted areas to conserve water during this time, as the reservoirs replenish. This will help prevent additional strain on the local supply. 

“While our frontline crews are working to manage water supply across the area and repair any leaks on the network, we need the help of our customers to conserve water while reservoir levels recover. 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 across Donegal that every individual water saving action counts and using only what you need really helps to make a positive contribution that can benefit everyone.”

We would also urge members of the public to continue to report any leaks or bursts on the public water network to our Customer Care Team on 1800 278 278, which is open 24/7.

By taking some simple steps to conserve water at home, in the garden and at work, people can play their part in protecting local water supplies for themselves and their neighbours.

Below are some simple water-saving tips everyone can do, to help protect supplies: 

• 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 six 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 seven-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.

To access the water conservation calculator or find out more about water conservation tips, visit the Conservation section of our website.