Water restrictions to continue as repair staff 'miss Christmas'

Homes across the country face another night of restricted water supplies as local authorities struggle to cope with burst mains and leaking pipes.

Dublin City Council has said it hopes to ease restrictions on water supplies for a period on New Years Eve to facilitate restaurants and pubs. An announcement is expected on those arrangements tomorrow.

In Cork, the City Council will continue night restrictions over a number of areas which have very high leakage levels, particularly across the north of the city.

Calls to an emergency information line (021 4966512) are answered out of hours by Cork City Fire Brigade personnel.

A spokesman said this evening that there had been a difference of 23C in temperatures in the city in the last few days and that "pipes cannot handle that, particularly old pipes".

He said there were leaks all over the city, but that these were being repaired by crews working around the clock.

"There are council staff who haven't had a Christmas - they've been out doing repairs since Christmas Eve," he said, adding that it was hoped to have most of the leaks repaired by the weekend.

The freezing weather conditions, followed by a surge in demand, has meant most counties are short of water.

Emergency teams have been working around the clock to identify leaks and fix damaged mains, with supply to hospitals and care centres among the priorities.

Water tankers and standpipes have been available in the worst-affected areas and will be made available again tomorrow, while householders are being urged to use water sparingly and not to store it.

People are also being asked to check schools and unoccupied businesses and homes for leaks.

Principle engineering advisor with the Department of the Environment Gerry Galvin said: "The work is progressing well…Water has been restored to some areas (but) more problem areas are showing up, which the local authorities are giving attention to."

Limerick County Council this evening said that due to the necessity to carry out repairs on the water supply network following the recent thaw and the low levels in reservoirs, it will be necessary to shut off water supplies in many areas.

Water will be shut off this evening and restored tomorrow morning.