Uisce Éireann has imposed a hosepipe ban in three Irish counties due to a “sharp drop in water levels”.
Water Conservation Orders have now come into force in Mullingar, County Westmeath; Milford, County Donegal; and Kells-Oldcastle, County Meath. The orders will remain in force for the next six weeks.
“The Water Conservation Order prohibits the use of garden hosepipes and other non-essential uses of water by domestic users and commercial premises for non-commercial activities, for example watering gardens attached to a business premises”, Ireland’s state-owned water company said.
Water sources for the three counties have experienced “a sharp drop in water levels”, Uisce Éireann said, “following a dryer-than-average autumn, winter and spring.”
Lough Owel which supplies the Mullingar Public Water Supply is currently at its lowest level in 50 years, Irish water said.
“Similarly, Lough Colmcille which supplies Milford in Donegal, and Lough Bane which supplies Kells-Oldcastle in Co Meath are also at historically low levels.”
The European Drought Observatory warned that 39.9 percent of Europe is currently in drought “warning conditions”
EU climate experts warn that “impacts on vegetation are most likely to emerge in the coming months if these conditions will persist”.
“As of mid-April 2025, the Combined Drought Indicator (CDI) shows warning drought conditions in the Baltic Sea region, Poland, Czechia, Slovakia, Belarus, most of Ukraine, and Southern Russia. Further southeast of Europe, warning conditions are also observed in western Romania, Bulgaria, some regions of Greece, parts of the western Balkans, Cyprus, most of Türkiye, Malta, and southern Mediterranean islands.
In north western and central Europe drought conditions have intensified and warning conditions are affecting southern Sweden, southern Finland, Denmark, Ireland, the UK, northern, eastern and western France, Benelux, almost half of Germany, some areas on the northern slopes of the Alps, and a few areas in Hungary and Czechia.”
Uisce Éireann says that across Ireland people should be “mindful of their use of water as we enter the summer months.”
“As we enter the summer months, warmer weather creates a surge in demand for water, for gardening, leisure and other purposes”, said Margaret Attridge, Head of Water Operations at Uisce Éireann.
“Using a hosepipe for one hour is the equivalent of the daily water usage of an average family and this is generally a non-essential use of water. We are asking everyone to play their part in conserving water and reporting leaks to help alleviate the pressure on our water supplies.