Public urged to change mindset on water usage

Irish Water has pleaded with the public to report leaks and “change their mindset on water usage”, advising that measures being put in place to deal with water shortages could last for months.

Met Éireann said there was no rainfall forecast over the coming 10 days. Forecaster John Eagleton said: “I don’t think I have ever seen a ‘zero’ [ml of rainfall] in a 10-day forecast.”

With a hosepipe ban in place in Dublin and likely to be extended to some other areas, Irish Water said it was now looking ahead to months later in the year when the current lack of rainfall could have a longer-term effect.