John Paul Phelan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I am taking this matter on behalf of the Minister, Deputy Eoghan Murphy. I thank Deputy Farrell for raising this very timely and important issue. As we speak, large parts of the country are experiencing temperatures above 30°. While this issue is affecting several local authority areas at present, it has the potential to expand into other areas. This debate provides an opportunity to outline and discuss the legislative and administrative arrangements in place to promote water conservation in response to anticipated prolonged periods of excessively hot weather such as that we are currently experiencing.

I agree with Deputy Farrell on the need to promote water conservation. The suggestion of a hosepipe ban is one possible measure, but there are many other measures too and I hope that we can all encourage water conservation at this time. In addressing the specific proposed hosepipe ban measure raised by Deputy Farrell it is important to point out that sections 56(16) to 56(25) of the Water Services Act 2007 already make statutory provision for the introduction of a such a ban and other restrictions designed to conserve water supplies during times of drought. It also provides for the application of a fixed payment notice or, in plain terms, a fine of €125 for breach of such restrictions to facilitate enforcement. These arrangements can come into force when a water services authority, which effectively means Irish Water since legal responsibility for the public water system transferred from local authorities to Irish Water with effect from 1 January 2014, is of the opinion that a serious shortage of water supplies exists or is imminent in an area. This would typically be during or following a prolonged period of dry weather but, in any event, it is possible for Irish Water to make such an order where demand is expected to exceed supply and it becomes necessary to restrict the use of water supplies including restricting certain activities involving the use of water.

Specified activities which may be restricted include watering a garden, watering of recreational parks or sports grounds, irrigating or spraying crops, washing vehicles, the provision of commercial washing services for a vehicle or trailer, or filling or replenishing a swimming pool or an artificial pond or lake. In practice the restrictions may apply to specified activities for all or specified parts of the day. Before making an order the water services authority must give public notice of its intention to make such order and the period for which the order will remain in force through advertising in the public press or broadcast announcements on television or local or national radio. Such provisions are well established in other European and international jurisdictions.

While the option of a hosepipe ban is there, we need to look to other conservation measures and the management of our water supplies. Irish Water’s drought management group has been meeting to assess the risk to drinking water supplies in areas that include the midlands, particularly Athlone and Mullingar; parts of Offaly; Longford; Kilkenny; parts of Donegal; and the greater Dublin area, where the demand for treated water almost meets available supply. The Dublin region is currently using approximately 600 million litres of water a day, which is close to the maximum amount of water that can be treated on a daily basis. Irish Water believes that current storage in the raw water reservoirs in the greater Dublin area, at Roundwood and Pollaphuca are reasonable and they do not see water shortages at present. However, if the summer and autumn continue dry and hot, these reservoirs will come under pressure later in the year.

The main pressures arise from the capacity to produce treated water and Irish Water has seen significant increases of the order of 20 million to 30 million litres per day, which occasionally exceeds production capacity. This is not sustainable for more than a few weeks without the need for some management action to conserve water. Irish Water is considering all measures that might be used to encourage people to conserve water. In the meantime it is asking the public to be mindful of their water usage and to take every measure possible to conserve water. Water usage in the home, garden or business has a direct impact not only on the water user, but on their neighbours, their families and the wider community.

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