The upside to all the rain: Hosepipe ban lifted in county Kilkenny after wetter than usual spell

A hosepipe ban that was in place in county Kilkenny for the past four weeks has been lifted.

Irish Water has lifted the water conservation order that was imposed on June 9 following what they call “recent heavy rainfall” which has caused “improving river and ground water conditions.”

The Water Conservation Order was initially issued after Ireland recorded the driest May in 170 years, therefore the ban was put in place in a bid to safeguard water supplies for essential purposes, in particular water needed for sanitation purposes during the COVID-19 crisis.

Managing Director of Irish Water Niall Gleeson said about the lifting of the ban: “When the Water Conservation Order was issued, 27 of Irish Water’s 900 drinking water schemes were in drought with another 50 at risk of going into drought. Thereafter the situation deteriorated rapidly with the number of schemes in drought or at risk of drought peaking at 98.

“Thankfully from a water supply perspective over the past couple of weeks there has been above average rainfall in many areas of the country.

“This has resulted in the recovery of some of the water supplies that were in drought or at risk of drought,” Mr Gleeson said.

However, the spokesperson was quick to point out that although the ban has been lifted there is still potential for drought if another sustained period of hot dry weather is experienced.

“Currently only 17 schemes remain in drought and a further 61 are at risk.

“While the overall numbers are trending downwards, the situation is not uniform across the country and the recovery of some sources is very fragile.

“Irish Water is continuing to monitor the affected water sources as their recovery is fragile and subject to change.

“Should we enter a spell of prolonged warm and dry weather, and if the sources go into drought again, we may need to reconsider and re-impose a Water Conservation Order,” Mr Gleeson concluded.