Water Conservation Order issued for Waterford due to critically low water supply

Raw water levels throughout Waterford are critically low, and a water conservation order, commonly known as a hosepipe ban, will come into effect across the county from Saturday, 26 July 2025, until 16 September 2025.

The Water Conservation Order has been issued by Uisce Éireann in a bid to safeguard the water supply for essential purposes. 

The Conservation Order prohibits the use of garden hosepipes and other non-essential uses of water by domestic users, as well as commercial premises for non-commercial activities, such as watering gardens attached to a business premises.

The implementation of the Order follows a long period of dry weather combined with high demand, now placing severe pressure on water supplies across the county.

"It is essential that a Water Conservation Order is introduced to reduce the potential of restrictions and outages over the coming weeks and months" a statement from Uisce Éireann said.

Rainfall in Waterford during May, June, and July this year to date has been significantly below average when compared to long-term rainfall records. 

A total of 104mm of rainfall was measured at the Moore Park weather station during this period, compared to an average of 219.6mm for the same months in previous years, nearly 49% less rainfall recorded locally.

Fionnuala Callery, Regional Technical Operations Manager for Water at Uisce Éireann, said: “While it may often feel like Ireland receives plenty of rain, the data shows the past 12 months have been unseasonably warm and dry. 

"As a result, water sources across Waterford have not had their usual seasonal recharge, and we are now heading into the height of summer with lower-than-average water levels.

“Although some rainfall is expected, it will not be sufficient to make a meaningful impact on the already low water levels.

“We will continue to monitor water consumption while the Order remains in place. Protecting our water supply is essential if we are to avoid more severe restrictions or supply interruptions in the weeks and months ahead.

“We are also actively engaging with commercial water users to support their conservation efforts and reduce unnecessary usage."

Ms. Callery outlined several simple but effective ways to save water, from taking shorter showers to reusing household water in the garden. 

"The key message is: leave the hose and pressure washer in the shed" she said.

“We are calling on everyone to do their part so we can maintain a sustainable water supply throughout the summer."

To support households and businesses in conserving water, Uisce Éireann has developed an easy-to-use Water Conservation Calculator, which allows users to estimate how much water they’re saving and how to save more. 

The calculator and additional tips are available on the Water Conservation section of water.ie