Nationwide water disruption continues overnight

Further water restrictions were imposed across the country overnight as local councils struggled to cope with continued water shortages.

Water tankers and standpipes will again be made available to householders in the worst affected areas today, and people are being urged not to store water and to re-fill their tanks from these facilities.

Dublin City Council is hoping to ease restrictions for a period on New Years Eve to help restaurants and pubs and it is due to make an announcement on this development later.

Almost 130 million litres of water were lost in Dublin at the start of the week.

The Department of the Environment is warning that restricted water supplies and cut-offs will be imposed in areas over the weekend and into the first few days of next week as engineers continue to try and fix burst mains and leaking pipes.

It is also asking people to check holiday homes, schools and unoccupied businesses for leaks.

The Department's principle engineer advisor Gerry Galvin has given the following update this morning on the issue.

"Many homes across the country will have had water supplies restricted overnight, possibly till noon today," he said.

"Local authorities will be endeavouring to bring supplies back for at least a number of hours during the day which will enable all households to receive some supply.

"Where households have not, due to breaks in water mains, a water supply. Local authorities are making tankers or standpipes available and details of the locations of these are available and are updated regularly on each local authorities website."