Water supplies to stabilise this weekend

Water supplies across the country are expected to stabilise this weekend, following restrictions and to supply as a result of the cold snap.

Householders around the country will see a welcome rise in temperatures this weekend with the ground also expected to thaw.

Restrictions will remain in place on water use in some areas.

Limerick, Dublin and Westmeath have been without water for days and overnight restrictions were in place in Cork, Kilkenny, Clare and Carlow while pockets of the Northeast have no supply or low pressure.

The spike was being blamed on burst pipes, low water flow as a result of frozen ground as well as people leaving taps running for prolonged periods.

Yesterday the Government's National Emergency Response Committee met to discuss the issue. It said that while water use has decreased, it could take up to months for reservoirs in urban areas to fully recover.